Vote bank politics of Cong, UPA govt blamed for NE exodus

BANGALORE: Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu today blamed the "vote bank politics" of Congress and the UPA government for the exodus of Northeastern people from the city.

"It is because of the vote bank politics of the Congress and the UPA government that the exodus has happened", alleged Naidu, a core committee member of the BJP, before reporters here.

He asserted that the UPA government's failure to take timely action in Assam after eruption of ethnic violence and also the Maharashtra government to initiate action against those who recently staged a rally in Mumbai "raising provocative pro-Pakistan slogans" had led to panic among the Northeastern people resulting in their exodus.

"Rumour mongering, mischievous SMS and social media network" added to the panic, he said.

Naidu pointed out that the trouble had first started in Congress ruled states Pune (Maharashtra) and Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) and then 'percolated' to Bangalore and Chennai.