National

JD-U MPs threaten to resign over Maharashtra issue

NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal (United) on Thursday threatened that its members in the Lok Sabha would resign after Chhat Puja if the Centre failed to take action against the Maharashtra government and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in connection with the attacks on north Indians in Mumbai. The Janata Dal (United) has five members in the Lok Sabha. The party has demanded that fresh elections should be conducted in Maharashtra by either dismissing the government or dissolving the State Assembly, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killing of two north Indian migrants in Mumbai and a judicial enquiry into the activities of the MNS.

“If the United Progressive Alliance(UPA) does not meet these demands by November 4 (Chhath Puja festival), the five MPs will put in their papers. We feel there is no point in continuing with this Lok Sabha after the way north Indians are being treated in Maharashtra,” the JD (U) president Sharad Yadav told a press conference here.

Pointing out that the way Maharashtra Navnirman Sena – a small party in existence for merely two years that had contested only municipal elections -- was being “nurtured” by the State government would have damaging consequences for the nation in the future.

Referring to the MPs of various political parties from Bihar meeting the Prime Minister over the issue, Mr. Yadav felt that meeting and making statements on the part of the UPA allies was not enough as they were in a position to impress upon the Centre to take stronger action.

“If an ally like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) could take up the issue of Tamilians living in another country and make the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visit Colombo, certainly the MPs from Bihar have more numerical strength to move the things at the Centre,” he said, adding that making mere statements was the job of the Opposition.

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