We would have taught lesson to Raj if he could have been in Bihar

Nitish demands Prez rule in Maharashtra

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Saturday, November 1, 2008

The controversy over violent regional cleansing under taken by MNS chief Raj Thackeray against North Indians gained momentum on Friday when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanded CBI and judicial inquiries into the alleged "killing" of Rahul Raj who was shot dead on Monday in a BEST bus by the Mumbai Police by ing five bullets in his body.

He warned JD(U) MPs from Bihar could resign anytime if the Central Government failed to stop violence against North Indians in Maharashtra and arrest the perpetrators.

While demanding President rule in Maharashtra on account of the failure of the State Government to take corrective and punitive measures against MNS activists and giving them a free hand to run terror against North Indians, Nitish also criticised the Central Government for its silence on the whole affair.

Nitish was in the State Capital to discuss the candidature of Basundhara Munda, the wife of late Ramesh Singh Munda, from Tamar Assembly constituency.

While answering a pointed question about the death of Rahul Raj, he said, "If Rahul was indeed carrying and brandishing revolver on that day he should have been arrested by the police and a case against him could have been filled to ascertain truth, but instead he was killed and now some people 'Raj Thackeray and his activists' are trying to justify his murder."

Nitish was referring to the comment made by Thackeray in a Press conference in Mumbai on Friday evening. Terming it a barbaric act, the reported incidents in which people from UP and Bihar are being thrown out of moving train, Nitish said it exposes the lack of sensitivity on the part of the people at whelm of affair.

Criticising Raj Thackeray and his ilk for corroding the federal structure of India and treating Maharashtra as their fiefdom, Nitish asserted, "No political party can impose restriction upon the free movement of the people. Those who are forcing North Indians through violence do not know the impact and ramification of their act."

Mentioning the contribution of people of the different parts of Indian in making Mumbai rich and giving it a chance to boast as the "financial capital of India", Nitish cautioned, "What they (MNS people) will do if money stops flowing to Mumbai, if MNS continues to drive away people from the State."

Later, he met Basundhra Munda to discuss her candidature for the coming by-election of Tamar constituency which lies vacant after the murder of Ramesh Singh Munda. In a brief interaction with media, Basundhara Munda dropped hint to fight elections as JD(U) candidate.