Narendra Modi-Raj Thackeray posters surface in Surat

Posters depicting pictures of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi with MNS chief Raj Thackeray surfaced here on Friday in areas populated with migrant workers from north India. The posters, put up by a Youth Congress leader, ask voters to think twice before voting for the BJP.

The posters show Narendra Modi and Raj Thackeray engrossed in a conversation.

“UP, Bihar ke logon ko chun chun ke maara tha Maharashtra mein, ab aaya hai mauka, aapke chunaav ka, hamare chunaav ka, (They targeted people of UP, Bihar in Maharashtra, now is the chance, of your choice, of our choice),” screamed the posters.

“Dushman ka dushman dost hota hai…toh dushman ka dost dushman kyun nahi?" (An enemy’s enemy is a friend, then why should an enemy’s friend not be an enemy?),” the posters questioned.

However, the posters started disappearing after they became viral on the internet and social media. Some of the posters were even burnt.  The posters were put up by Anup Rajput, a local Youth Congress leader.

“While Narendra Modi speaks of national unity and brotherhood, he never criticised Raj Thackeray, who initiated the hate campaign against north Indians in Mumbai and Maharashtra. Moreover, Thackeray was treated as state guest during his visit to Gujarat,” Rajput told dna.

The BJP, however, criticised the Congress for putting up such posters.

“Congress is unable to digest Narendra Modi’s popularity and is using such tactics to tarnish his image. But, it will never succeed in its,” CR Patil, BJP MP from Navsari said.

The Surat BJP later claimed that it has filed a complaint with Election Commission against Rajput for putting up the posters.

The authorities say that they have begun a probe in the case.

Thackeray and the MNS have frequently targeted north Indians, especially those from Bihar, accusing them of taking away jobs meant for Maharashtrians.