Mayawati seeks ban on MNS, warns backlash

Lucknow, Oct 21 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Tuesday sought a ban on the Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for unleashing terror on north Indians in Mumbai and some other parts of Maharastra.

'BSP condemns the acts of MNS and demands a ban on the organisation,' Mayawati told a press conference here.

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She also warned MNS chief Raj Thackeray of a backlash against Maharastrians living in Uttar Pradesh and other north Indian states.

'Thackeray needs to realize the number of Maharastrians living in other states may have to pay for his misdeeds.'

Mayawati held the Congress party as much responsible for the plight of North Indians in Maharastra.

'If the Congress had risen to the occasion earlier and taken timely action against Raj, whose vandalism was going on for more than a year now, he would have not got such a long rope.

'And that could have saved so many north Indians of the physical torture and humiliation,' she said.

She said, 'after ignoring Raj all along, Congress chose to act now only because parliamentary elections are just round the corner.'

Mayawati said: 'The case that had been built against the MNS chief (was) rather weak, thereby clearly reflecting the double standards of the Maharastra government.'

In an obvious reference to her sworn political adversary Samajwadi Party, whose leaders were condemning Raj Thakeray Tuesday, Mayawati said that 'such leaders are only shedding crocodile tears'.