The war of words between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and the Shiv Sena over the issue of north Indian migrants in Mumbai intensified today. Gandhi maintained that India is for all Indians and that the National Security Guards (NSG) personnel who saved the lives of hundreds of Mumbaikars during the 26/11 terror attacks in 2008 were from all over the country, while Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray accused him of insulting Marathi policemen who were killed in the attacks.
“Frankly, I am not interested what Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray or Raj Thackeray (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief) has said. My point is that India is for all Indians. I am not ready to remain silent and stop the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from going to Mumbai,” Gandhi said at a packed press conference today in Patna.
“Every part of India is for every Indian. Any Indian is free to move in any part of the country,” he pointed out.
Gandhi’s remarks came hours after Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray targeted him in the party mouthpiece Saamna.
In his editorial, Uddhav wrote that those comments insulted bravery of martyrs like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Tukaram Omble, Vijay Salaskar and all brave Maharashtrian policemen. He wrote, “Where was Rahul Gandhi when Mumbai was attacked?”
On Monday, Rahul Gandhi said in Gaya that many of the NSG personnel, who fought to save Mumbai, were north Indians.
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“So, it is wrong for the Thackerays to suggest that outsiders will not be accepted in the city,” said Gandhi.
Interestingly, no leader from the Congress’ Maharashtra unit, including Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, had anything to say either endorsing Gandhi’s comments or in support of north Indian migrants in the megapolis.
“I did not say this (about NSG commandos) with reference to Thackeray’s comment but to the people of Bihar. He said that they should be thrown out of Mumbai, but he did not say this during 26/11,” said Rahul. “If India has to move forward, then all have to be taken forward,” he added.
Both Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin Raj have been campaigning against migrant labourers from UP and Bihar.
Meanwhile, actor Shah Rukh Khan, who is under attack from the Shiv Sena for his remarks on the non-inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the coming Indian Premier Leauge, said he was not apologetic for favouring the inclusion of Pakistani players and termed the activities of the party as “undemocratic”.