M'shtra violence: Patil to make statement on Mar 4

New Delhi, Mar 4: Home Minister (HM) Shivraj Patil will make a statement in Parliament today on violence against North Indians in Maharashtra. On Monday, the House was adjourned several times as some members wanted a response from the government over the issue. They wanted to know why the Union Government had failed to take timely action to prevent the spread of violence.

As the House met for question hour, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee allowed them to express their views on the issue. On February 3, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists attacked workers of Samajwadi Party (SP) who had organised a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. The rally was to be addressed by former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Seventy-three MNS activists and 19 SP workers were arrested by Mumbai Police after these clashes.

The attack by MNS leader Raj Thackeray's supportes was part of its continuing 'tirade against North Indians'.

Following these clashes between MNS and SP, a wave of attacks on North Indians were reported from all over Maharashtra, following which Raj Thackeray and Abu Azmi were arrested for inciting violence and disturbing law and order.

ANI