Action should be taken against both parties: Ahir

Mumbai, Feb 7 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) city unit president and MLA Sachin Ahir today said action should be taken against the leaders of both Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers for making inflammatory speeches that had resulted in violence in the metropolis on Sunday.

Speaking to mediapersons after meeting local NCP leader and president of Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parishad Munna Tripathi, who has been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike since yesterday at Azad Maidan here, also called for action against both the parties.

The SP leader had talked of distributing sticks, while the MNS chief Raj Thackeray had threatened of distributing swords few days ahead of a 'Desh Bachao' rally organised by United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) at Shivaji Park, Dadar in Central Mumbai. Incidentally, the venue of the UNPA rally was a stone's throw away from Raj Thackeray's residence.

Replying to a query raised by mediapersons, he said the government has sought a report from all intelligence agencies. After getting the assessment report, appropriate action would be taken against the concerned party.

''Without an inquiry into the matter, it was not proper to take any action against anybody but the government whould certainly take action whoever found guilty in the enquiry report,'' Mr Ahir said.

Earlier, he met Mr Tripathi and requested him to break his hunger strike and assured the latter that he would talk to Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil, who also belongs to NCP, in this regard.

It may recalled that Mr Tripathi, who is also vice-president of NCP Western suburb, began the hunger strike yesterday, demanding the arrest of Raj Thackeray for allegedly attacking the members of North Indian community last Sunday.

UNI ST SSS SZ RN1938