Nitish Kumar should seek ouster of Shiv Sena from NDA: Congress

PATNA: Observing that the Shiv Sena led by Bal Thackeray was "behind" the hate campaign against the Bihari migrants in Mumbai and Maharashtra over the years, the Congress today asked the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to seek ouster of the Sena from the NDA.

"Whether it is the MNS chief Raj Thackeray or the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray who have been carrying out sustained hate campaign against the Biharis, it is Bal Thackeray who has been in root of the regional and chauvinistic politics of the Sena," Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Chaudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser said.

Under the circumstances, if the Chief Minister was serious to take on the Thackerays, then he should seek ouster of the Shiv Sena from the NDA in order to teach the regional outfit a lesson about its hate campaign against the Bihar migrants and other North Indian settlers, he said.

Kaiser, however, "expressed doubt" that Kumar would take his suggestion to logical conclusion as he was sitting in the "lap of the Shiv Sena's trusted ally - BJP - to enjoy fruits of political power in Bihar."

Taking strong exception to the MNS chief's hate speech against the Bihari migrants and his cousin's remarks to make mandatory for the Bihari people to get permit for visit to Mumbai and Maharasthra, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president said that he has written a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chawan urging him to take action as per law against the Thackerays for their provocative speech against the migrant people.