Shukla attacks Raj for campaign against north Indians

Raipur, Nov 2 (IANS) Congress veteran and nine-time MP Vidya Charan Shukla Sunday hit out against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for campaigning against north Indians and described his movement 'dangerous for the country's integrity'.

'It's highly condemnable... it must not happen because it weakens the country,' Shukla told reporters here.

Talking about the upcoming assembly polls in Chhattisgarh Nov 14 and 20, Shukla said: 'The BJP government is on its way out because of its misdeeds and flawed policies.'

Shukla is largely held responsible for the ouster of the Congress government in the November 2003 assembly polls when he left the party to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and created a movement against the then Ajit Jogi-led government.

The NCP contested 89 out of 90 seats, but bagged just one. It, however, polled over seven percent votes, ensuring defeat for the Congress on as many as 18 seats.

After the assembly polls, Shukla joined the BJP and contested the Lok Sabha polls from his home seat Mahasamund in 2004 where he lost to Congress' Ajit Jogi by a margin of over 100,000 votes. He re-joined the Congress early this year.

Rejecting charges that ticket-allotments were made in the Congress for the November polls based on loyalty to individuals rather than to the party, the 78-year-old leader said: 'The candidates' potential is the lone consideration.'

Shukla claimed that Congress would bag at least 50 seats in the coming assembly polls.