Political leaders condemn killing of a "North Indian" in Maharashtra

Patna / New Delhi, Oct 30 : Leaders cutting across political lines have flayed the lynching of a migrant youth, belonging to Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district, by miscreants on a local train in Maharashtra on Tuesday. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condemned the attack saying that those guilty should be immediately tried and punished.

"Those who are guilty should be identified and should be punished after a speedy trial. The safety of people should be given attention," said Nitish Kumar.

Meanwhile, Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) demanded dismissal of the State Government for its continued failure to protect the migrants.

"The LJP has put up a demonstration in Delhi to protest against this incident. We demand Central rule there on behalf of the party. The situation is out of control," said party chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

Samajawadi Party said that the issue might develop into a major controversy affecting the UPA's fortunes in the coming months.

Party General Secretary Amar Singh said: "In the entire Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, there will be a different kind of emotional trigger and that will affect the UPA and that will badly damage UPA's fortunes if they don't wake up soon."

Main Opposition party the BJP also lashed out at the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for not being tough on the Maharashtra Navnirmana Sena (MNS).

"The BJP blames the Congress and the NCP for supporting the MNS. This is evident from the fact that tough action is wanting," said party spokesman Ravihankar Prasad.

A man from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh was beaten to death on a train in Badlapur in Maharashtra, after the miscreants identified him as a "North Indian".

Dharamdev Rai, 25, and his three friends were attacked by eight-ten people when they were on their way to Kurla. One of them claimed that they were attacked by a group of Marathi-speaking youths who abused them for taking up jobs in Mumbai.

The tragic incident comes after a youth from Bihar Rahul Raj was gunned down by the Mumbai Police on Monday after he had allegedly hijacked a bus at Kurla saying he wanted revenge against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.

On October 19, MNS activists had attacked north Indian railway job aspirants in Mumbai prompting calls for Thackeray's arrest and for the party to be banned. Thackeray was arrested on October 21 for rioting and provoking attacks on migrants. His arrest sparked protests in Maharashtra and a backlash on migrants across the country. However, on October 22, Thackeray was given bail in Mumbai after spending a night in jail.

ANI