Raj Thackeray faces criticism over his controversial remarks on Biharis

Maharashtra Nav Nirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray has once again come at the target of political parties over his controversial comments on Biharis (the residents of Bihar).

MNS Chief has threatened to treat biharis living in Maharashtra as 'infiltrators' if Bihar government takes legal action against those Mumbai Policemen who caught a youth from Sitamarhi district of Bihar for vandalising the martyr's memorial during Azad Maidan protest on August 11, 2012.

Congress, Janta Dal (United) and Bhartiya Janta Party have criticised Raj for his comments on Biharis.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said the Thackeray's family itself belonged to Bihar and had settled in Dhar in Western Madhya Pradesh from where they migrated to Mumbai.

"If you look at the history of Mumbai, then it is a city of fishermen. Rest all have settled there from outside," added Singh.

Janta Dal (U) leader Shivanand Tewari has attacked on both MNS and Congress as stating that the ruling party at the Centre and in Maharashtra is propping up Thackeray.

Warning to Congress, Tewari said, if Congress does not take action against Raj Thackeray, he and his party would become like Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale of Punjab and then it would become extremely tough for Congress to stop this kind of infiltration.

Condemning to Raj Thackeray, BJP has said that this type of statement showed a reflection of mental bankruptcy and can cost a lost in the big fight against terrorism.

"The country works under a federal structure and if a person suspicious belongs to a particular state then definitely that state must be taken into full confidence. This is a part of the legal procedure. But statements that if any action is taken then the people of that particular state will be targeted shows mental bankruptcy. Such statements can cause a loss in the big fight against terrorism," said BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi by adding that a terrorist cannot be discriminated on the basis of his caste and religion.

"There is nothing wrong in working in the political field, but one must not indulge in spreading hatred and chaos in the society," he added.

According to sources, MNS Chief has made this comment on the basis of media reports that say that Bihar Chief Secretary has written a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner expressing his displeasure over the arrest of a youth for vandalising the martyr's memorial during Azad Maidan protest on August 11.

He (Bihar Chief Secretary) warned to Commissioner if Mumbai crime branch picks up people from their state without the knowledge of the Bihar police they would face legal action.

Responding this report, Raj Thackeray has said, "If the Bihar Government tries to become a hurdle in the way of a police investigation, then my party would dub every Bihari in Maharashtra as an infiltrator and would force them to leave the state. The person who desecrated the Amar Jawan memorial was arrested from Bihar. I would like to tell the Bihar chief secretary that because of your state, the crime rate (in Maharashtra) has gone up."

Mumbai Crime Branch had earlier on Monday arrested Abdul Qadir Mohammed Younus Ansari from Sitamarhi in Bihar for vandalising the Amar Jawan Memorial near Azad Maidan during August 11 rioting at a protest called against alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar.

--With Agencies Inputs--