Centre should issue directive to Maharashtra government: BJP

New Delhi, Oct 29 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded that the Centre should issue a directive to Maharashtra Government under Article 355 for its failure to protect the rights of individuals in the state.

In the wake of recent attacks on north Indians in Mumbai, BJP spokesperson Ravishanker Prasad, while talking to reporters at New Delhi today, said, "Along with proper and fair investigations, the Centre should issue a directive to Maharashtra Government under Article 355 for its failure to protect the rights of individuals." Prasad, while accusing the Congress-NCP dispensation in the state for the attacks against north Indians, said, "It is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling Congress-NCP government in the state is definitely, overtly or covertly, encouraging and supporting elements like MNS for extraneous political considerations."

While questioning the Rashtriya Janata Dals (RJD) and Lok Janshakti Partys (LJP) silence, Prasad said when Constitutional norms are being blatantly flouted why is it that Lalu Prasad (RJD leader) and Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP's leader) are conspicuously silent.

"The double standard of the UPA government is clearly evident, he said, adding, The BJP strongly condemns the merciless and brutal killing of yet another north Indian near Thane when he was seeking to board a train for his home town."

Dharamdev Rai, 25, and his three friends were attacked by eight-ten people when they were on their way to Kurla today.

One of them claimed that they were attacked by a group of Marathi-speaking youths who abused them for taking up jobs in Mumbai.

Rai was admitted to the Dubey Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.

The tragic incident comes after a youth from Bihar Rahul Raj was gunned down by the Mumbai Police on Monday after he had allegedly hijacked a bus at Kurla saying he wanted revenge against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

ANI