Maharashtra Govt accused of going soft on Thackeray brothers

Patna, Feb 11 (UNI) The ruling JD(U) in Bihar today expressed concern over Thackeray brothers' "derogatory" comment about north Indians and charged the Maharashtra Goverment with going "soft" on them.

The Maharashtra Government remained totally "insensitive" and "unconcerned" even when Mr Raj Thackray was ''spitting venom'' on the Hindi-speaking people and did not take any step to prevent him, stated JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari in a statement here.

'' The inaction and dilly dallying approach of the Vilasrao Deshmukh Government against Raj Thackeray has hurt the psyche of all the Hindi-speaking people living not only in Maharashtra but across the country, '' Mr Tiwari said and alleged that such "inaction" had prompted Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray to issue even more vitriolic statement against the north Indians.

'' It appears both Thackeray brothers are vying with each other for extracting the maximum political mileage and consolidating their vote banks by spreading hatred, '' Mr Tiwari pointed out.

The growing trend of casting aspersion on the people of Hindi heartland living in Maharashtra had jeopardised their political future in western India, he said adding the Apex Court through a 1996 ruling said responsibility of protecting life and property of the people lied with the state Government.

'' Even the Union Government is watching as a mute spectator and not discharging its Constitutional duty to force the Maharashtra Government to take suitable steps for protecting the life and property of the Hindi-speaking people settled in that state, '' Mr Tiwari lamented.

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