 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Accusing Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray of hurting the religious sentiments of people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday demanded his immediate arrest for causing divisions in the society.
"Creating divisions in society on religious lines is dangerous for national unity," he told reporters when asked to comment on Thackeray's opposition to observance of 'Chhath Puja' and celebration of Uttar Bharatiya Diwas in Maharashtra by people from north India.
He alleged even Shiv Sena was trying to divide the country on religious lines.
Paswan has held a demonstration in Delhi against the remark and demanded Raj Thackeray's immediate arrest.
The LJP chief said none should interfere with someone's religious faith and wondered whether Raj Thackeray would stop celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi if he is in Delhi.
He demanded that the Maharasthra government lodge a case against Thackeray and arrest him.
Congress had on Friday demanded that Raj Thackeray should apologise for making the "highly condemnable" remark.
To another question, Paswan demanded reservation for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and said the Constitution should be amended accordingly.
He accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of "diluting" reservation rules in the state and said LJP will hold demonstrations at all district headquarters of the state on February 5 to demand quota for Dalits.