The Hindu : New Delhi News : Mahajan should apologise, says Congress MLA

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Mahajan should apologise, says Congress MLA

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Expressing outrage at alleged remarks by Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Pramod Mahajan about people of Bihar living in Mumbai and other parts of Maharasthra, Congress MLA and Poorvanchal leader Mahabal Mishra on Saturday warned that Mr. Mahajan would not be allowed to speak from any forum in Delhi till he apologises for his `derogatory' outpourings.

Mr. Mishra declared that Poorvanchal Ekta Sangh, Purvasi Seva Dal and other such organisations would hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Sunday to protest against Mr. Mahajan's remarks. "It is unfortunate that only till last month Mr. Mahajan along with other BJP leaders had gone to Bihar seeking votes for his party during the Assembly elections and now he was speaking against the people of Bihar and even threatening them that they would be pushed out of Mumbai and Maharashtra if they did not follow local norms."

Seeking intervention of the Maharashtra Government in the matter, Mr. Mishra urged Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh "not to allow such individuals to hijack the harmony prevailing in the State".

"Every citizen has the right to live and earn his or her livelihood in any part of the country. Mr. Mahajan has no right to give a communal colour to such small matters as people of Bihar have contributed equally to the progress of the nation as well as Maharashtra," Mr. Mishra added.

Earlier in the day, prominent leaders from Bihar held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar to lodge their protest. Those who took part in the programme included Mr. Mishra, former MP Sanjay Nirupam, Bihar Congress Legislature Party leader, Ashok Kumar and Purvasi Seva Dal president, Hira Prasad Mishra.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi