Following protests from the Bihar government after an alleged Azad Maidan rioter was picked up from that State, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has threatened to brand every migrant from Bihar an “infiltrator.” “If the Bihar government attempts to be a hurdle in way of the Mumbai police investigations, MNS will proclaim every resident from Bihar an ‘infiltrator’ and send him packing from Maharashtra,” Mr. Thackeray declared here on Friday.
Mr. Thackeray’s latest anti-migrant harangue came in the wake of the Bihar government’s protests after the Mumbai Crime Branch on Monday nabbed Abdul Kadir Ansari (19), one of the youths who had allegedly vandalised the Amar Jawan memorial during the August 11 riots near Azad Maidan. Two people died and more than 50 police personnel, including several women, were badly injured in the incidents.
After Ansari was picked up from Sitamarhi district, Bihar Chief Secretary Navin Kumar wrote to the Mumbai Police Commissioner asking why the State police were not taken into confidence on the operation.
The MNS chief also assailed the Maharashtra Congress and Nationalist Congress Party leaders, questioning their silence on the Bihar Chief Secretary’s remarks. Mr. Thackeray reiterated his demand for the resignation of Home Minister R.R. Patil for his handling of the Azad Maidan rioting.
