All party meet demands PM's intervention on Maharashtra issue:Nitish

Patna, Oct 23 (UNI) An all party meeting here today unanimously sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention into the unprovoked attacks on Biharis in Maharashtra, besides steps to ensure their safety and security.

Briefing newsmen after the marathon meeting, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said they also discussed in detail the issue of unabated violence and damage to railway property in the state since yesterday by groups of battered students on their return from Maharashtra.

'' We will soon meet the Prime Minister to apprise him of the all party decision for his immediate intervention and for stringent action against the disruptive forces in Maharashtra, which are hell bent on spreading violence and hatred against the Hindi speaking people in general and the Biharis in particular,'' he said.

The meeting also appealed to the Maharashtra government to take 'stern action' against those responsible for attacks on Biharis as it was a total violation of the fundamental rights of the constitution, he said adding such incidents also ''jeopardise the unity and integrity of the country''.

Reiterating that Biharis had no ill-feeling towards the people of Maharashtra, the Chief minister said the people here actually wanted immediate action against the disruptive elements there.

He also appealed to the students community to maintain ''peace'' and exercise ''restraint'' and not to damage railway and public property.

''Such violence is only sending wrong messages about Bihar apart from weakening our demand for suitable action against Vilas Rao Deshmukh government on the issue,''he maintained.

Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee(BPCC)President Anil Kumar Sharma said he had urged party president Sonia Gandhi to take strong action against the Vilas Rao government besides ensuring total safety and security of Biharis in Maharashtra.

Senior representatives of JD(U), RJD, LJP, NCP, Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and SP participated in the all party meeting here this evening. However,CPI(ML) boycotted the meeting in protest.

UNI KKS-ABA KK DB2041