New Delhi (PTI): In the wake of the recent attacks on north Indians in Mumbai, the BJP on wednesday demanded the Centre to issue a directive to the Maharashtra government under Article 355 for failing to protect the rights of individuals in the state.

"Along with proper and fair investigations, the Centre should issue a directive to Maharashtra government under Article 355 for its failure to protect the rights of individuals," BJP spokesperson Ravishanker Prasad told reporters.

The party also accused the Congress-NCP dispensation in the state of encouraging attacks against north Indians.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling Congress-NCP government in the state is definitely, overtly or covertly, encouraging and supporting elements like MNS for extraneous political considerations," he said.

Questioning the RJD's and LJP's silence over the issue, he said, "When Constitutional norms are blatantly flouted why (RJD leader) Lalu Prasad and (LJP's) Ram Vilas Paswan were now conspicuously silent.

"The double standard of the UPA government is clearly evident. The BJP strongly condemns the merciless and brutal killing of yet another north Indian near Thane when he was seeking to board a train for his home town," he said.

In a suspected attack as part of the campaign against north Indians in Maharashtra, a 25-year-old Uttar Pradesh migrant died after being beaten up in a local train by fellow commuters, who allegedly picked up a fight with him and his three friends.

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