Mulayam to take up MNS issue with Centre

Lucknow, Oct 22 (UNI) Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said he will ask the Centre to put pressure on the Maharashtra government to take stringent action against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for attacking the north Indians.

''I will go to New Delhi and talk to the central leaders and other leaders of the constituents of the UPA government to put pressure on the Maharashtra government to stop the attacks on the North Indians,''he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Yadav said it was unfortunate that a ''gunda'' and his party were holding the country to ransom. ''They are spreading hatred in the country and if nothing was done soon, then the country would be on the verge of division in the name of regionalism,'' he claimed.

He also asked the media not to highlight the activities of the MNS and its leader Raj Thackray as the attacks were being done for mere publicity.

Mr Yadav also hinted that the MNS was doing all this just to gain political mileage among the Marathas and to marginalise the Shiv Sena led by Mr Bal Thackray.

Claiming that SP was the only political outfit trying to fight against the MNS in Maharashtra, Mr Yadav said the party had always taken up the issue due to which the MNS even tried to prevent a public rally of SP general secretary Amar Singh in Mumbai and attacked the supporters.

UNI MB JAS AKJ SB KP1452