NCP demands action against Raj Thackeray for anti-Bihari statement

Patna, Mar 11 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) general secretary Tariq Anwar today condemned the anti-Bihari statement of Maharshtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray and urged the Maharashtra government to take stern action against him for fanning regionl sentiments.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Anwar said that Mr Thakeray was making such statements in ''frustration'' as his party had to bite the dust in recenly held Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections.

He advised Mr Thackeray to refrain from indulging in politics of hatred.

Referring to the controversial speeches of international General Secretary of of Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) Praveen Togadia during his recent visit to Bihar, Mr Anwar said, ''The Nitish government should not allow him to visit the state as he might spark off communal tension in Bihar.

Mr Anwar lambasted the NDA government for his claim on improvement in law and order situation and said the state had witnessed spurt in crime in recent days.

He also listed incidents in the last two days including the murder of a jailer and loot of Rs 28 lakhs from a bank in Nawada.

''There was wide scale irregularities in below poverty line list (BPL) and state government failed to rectify the list,'' he said adding state government should scrap the entire BPL list if necessary and go for fresh list to ensure the benefits of various welfare schemes to the poor.

The NDA government was not utilising the funds released by the Centre for executing various welfare schemes, he added.

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