Pranab Mukherjee condemns violence in Maharashtra

Agartala, Feb 14 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has condemned the sectarian violence in Maharashtra following MNS chief Raj Thackeray's tirade against North Indians.

Addressing Congress workers here last night, Mr Mukherjee reacted sharply on the current situation in Maharashtra and expressed concern over volatile situation in that state.

He said the Centre has taken measures to restore normalcy in the violence-prone areas and safeguard the rights of the people.

''Every Indian has the right to travel and settle in any part of the country barring some tribal areas, where inner line permit regulations are in force, and nobody restrict their movement,''the Congress leader stated.

Mr Mukherjee was in Tripura to campaign for the party ahead of the February 23 Assembly election.

Clarifying the party's stand with regard to alliance with the Left Front at the Centre, Mr Mukherjee said the UPA was actually post-poll compulsion to provide a stable government and keep away non-secular forces from power, which was in contrast with the pre-poll alliance of the NDA.

He added there was no reason to believe that the same form of alliance would be forged at the national level once again.

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