BJP blames Mah govt. for delayed action against Raj Thackeray

New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) Condemning the attacks by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on the non-Mahrashtrian candidates taking Railways Recruitment Board examination in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra on Sunday, the BJP today blamed the Congress-led Government in the state for the delayed action against MNS leader Raj Thackeray.

Speaking to newspersons after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, senior party leader Sushma Swaraj said that the delay in acting against the MNS showed not just the inability of the Vilas Rao Deshmukh Government to protect the candidates, mainly from north Indian region, but was also indicative of government's tacit support to the attackers. Timely action would have spared the candidates from being roughed up, she said.

Earlier, addressing the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting, Leader of Opposition L K Advani told the MPs that the situation is very favourable for the party across the country and he was confident that the party could could take advantage of the sentiments of the people in the coming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Delhi.

He wanted the party MPs from other states also to take interest in these crucial polls as the Lok Sabha elections were just around the corner.

Mr Advani said, having undertaken "Vijay Sankalp Yatra" in many states, he could read the mind of the people that they were favourably inclined to support the BJP and the welfare programmes undertaken by the BJP-ruled states had gone down well with them. Commenting on the move to reschedule the Parliament session dates, Mr Advani said it appears that this could be the first and last Parliamentary Party meeting for the current session the way things were moving.

His comments come in the wake of the Government considering the NDA's demand for rescheduling the session in view of Deepavali, Dhanteras and Chat Pooja festivals and assembly polls.

The most likely scenario is that the Parliament will adjourn on October 24 and reassemble on December eight, party sources said.

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