Justice Katju flays anti-migrant rhetoric

New Delhi, Apr 15 (ANI): Chairman of Press Council of India (PCI) Justice Markandey Katju has condemned the anti-migrant ideology of certain regional outfits like the Maharashtra Navanirmana Sena (MNS).

"Those people who say that Biharis or UPites or south Indians should get out of Maharashtra are stating something totally unconstitutional," Katju told ANI.

"All Maharashtrians have the right to settle in Delhi or any part of India and do business and live in any part of India and similarly people from north India have the right to live and settle in Maharashtra because we are one country and this attempt at dividing our country must be condemned. We must not accept this son of the soil theory," Katju said.

He also defended Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's visit to Mumbai to participate in Bihar Diwas celebrations amid stern opposition voiced by MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

On April 12, during a political rally, Thackeray had dared Nitish Kumar on taking part in the Bihar Diwas celebrations in Mumbai.

However, after facing flak for his statement, Thackeray sobered down and reconciled with Kumar.

Kumar had earlier said that it was beyond his thinking as to why his proposed visit to Mumbai to celebrate 'Bihar Divas' would hurt the emotions of the people.

Nitish Kumar said that he would bow down before Maharashtra's land during his Mumbai visit.

"I am going there to attend a cultural function. I am not going there due to the contact with the political outfits. I am going there as the chief minister of Bihar as the people have invited me. It is beyond my thinking that why people should have problems with functions like these. When I visit there, I will bow down before Maharashtra's land," said Kumar.

"We are all proud of the leaders and saints of Maharashtra. This programme is for the poor people, who went there for work and settled there. I don't think anybody, the people of Maharashtra, should have problems with this function. The relationship between the people of Bihar and Maharashtra has been very good. I don't think our programme will hurt the emotions of the people of Maharashtra in any way," he added. (ANI)