PM asks Deshmukh to ensure safety of all

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) Immediately after meeting with Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the issue attack on North Indians in Maharashtra by the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight spoke to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and asked him to ensure safety of all sections of the society.

Dr Singh called up Mr Deshmukh and enquired about the situation in Maharashtra.

''Dr Singh asked the Chief Minister to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of all sections of society,'' a spokesman of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said here.

Meanwhile, an all-party delegation from Bihar met the Prime Minister and expressed concern over the recent developments in Maharashtra, especially today's incident in which a youth was killed.

''The meeting was held in constructive atmosphere. The Prime Minister assuresd the leaders that the Centre would take all necessary steps for ensuring law and order and the safety of all sections of the society,'' he said.

The all-party delegation expressed concern over the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra by activists of the MNS.

Leaders of parties belonging to all political parties, including ruling Janata Dal (United) and Opposition RJD, came together to seek the intervention of Dr Singh to stop violence against north Indians in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad sought stern action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

They also sought a judicial probe into the killing of a gun-wielding youth from Patna in a city bus in Mumbai today.

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