Bhopal (PTI): Tough measures should be taken against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray in view of his continuous hate campaign against North Indians in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai, a senior Congress leader said on Sunday.

"The Maharashtra government should have arrested Thackeray earlier itself in view of his hate-campaign against North Indians, but may be due to local constraints it was unable to do so. But, now the time has come for it to rein in the MNS leader," AICC secretary Anil Shastri told reporters.

"His comments against North Indians, specially against the megastar, Amitabh Bachchan are highly condemnable and therefore, Maharashtra Government should take strict action against him, Shastri said in response to a query.

Shastri arrived here to take part in a programme of Kayastha community.

On the issue of alliance by the Congress Party, he said that the party may forge an alliance with any particular party as a short-term measure, but in order to stand on its own feet it would not be in the interest of the party in the longer run.

"It is necessary for the party to stand on its own in states like Uttar Pradesh. One cannot stand for a longer period with the help of crutches," he said, while responding to a question on alliance with BSP.

However, he added that any decision in this regard will be taken by the senior party leadership.

When asked whether the Congress Party will contest the general elections on its own or with UPA, he said that UPA is not a long term arrangement and added that the party as far as possible will contest the polls on its own.