Cong, NCP support to MNS's regionalism: Singh

Nashik, Mar 11: Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on Monday alleged that the Congress and NCP had ''hidden support'' for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) ''regionalism''. ''Just like they gave birth to Bhindranwala in Punjab and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) in Assam, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh and Mr Sharad Pawar are giving credence to MNS leader Raj Thackeray,'' Amar Singh said here.

The Samajwadi Party leader, accompanied by MP Abu Azmi, was in the city to present a cheque of Rs five lakh to the kin of Ambadas Dharrao, the HAL employee, who lost his life during the MNS agitation on February 13. The SP leader also criticised the Chief Minister's statement regarding strain on Mumbai due to inflow of people from 'outside'.

He said though Mr Deshmukh's statements were not so provocative, it had the same tone that people from outside should not come to Maharashtra. Mr Singh said most of the former Shiv Sena leaders - Narayan Rane, Chhagan Bhujbal, Sanjay Nirupam were either in Congress or NCP now. ''They are all troubled by Uddhav Thackeray. Due to fear of the Shiv Sena's growing supremacy, all these leaders have taken shelter of Maharashtraism''.

He also appealed to politicians not to take innocent lives for their political ends. He said the MNS agitation was aimed at encouraging regionalism and break the nation.

The SP leader said his party, which came into existence to eradicate communal forces, would make all possible efforts to save the country from such forces and maintain harmony among people.

He also said North Indians have contributed to the making of Maharashtra and will contribute in future also. Some North Indians were also given financial assistance on the occasion.

UNI