Expel Shiv Sena from NDA, ban ABVP: Congress tells BJP

The Congress Thursday demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expel the Shiv Sena from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after its chief Bal Thackeray wrote an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana taking responsibility for the attacks on north Indians in Mumbai.

'Bal Thackeray has written championing the attacks on north Indians

Most of those attacked in Mumbai were from Bihar. The BJP, which is also is in power in many Hindi speaking states, should expel the Shiv Sena from NDA,' said Congress spokesperson Shakel Ahmad at a press conference.

Thackeray had Wednesday written in the Saamana that the attacks on north Indians were started by the Shiv Sena and the breakaway Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), started by his nephew Raj Thackeray, joined in later and now want to take the credit.

The Congress said the BJP is playing 'dual and divisive politics' to come to power.

'Instead of appreciating the Maharashtra government for its action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray, the BJP is opposing it. The BJP wants to propel regionalism and use communal divisions for its political gains,' said Ahmad.

However, Ahmad avoided an answer to a question why the Congress-led government in Maharashtra took so long to take action against Raj Thackeray.

MNS activists attacked north Indian job aspirants at railway recruitment examination centres in Mumbai on Sunday and tore up their answer sheets. Raj Thackeray was arrested on Tuesday and released the following day.

Ahmad also demanded a ban on the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students wing of the BJP, after the Maharashtra police is said to have established that it was linked to the Sep 29 bombings in Malegaon and Modasa.

'The Maharashtra police has said that the blasts in Malegaon and Modasa were carried out by the Hindu Jagran Manch which has close links with ABVP. This is the first time that a political party has been accused of such anti-national activities, for which it should be banned,' Ahmad demanded.

Five people, mainly Muslims, were killed in powerful blasts in the communally sensitive textile town of Malegaon and one boy was killed in Modasa town of Gujarat. The BJP had condemned the blasts.