Date:11/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/11/stories/2008111161131000.htm

National

Sena, BJP boycott meeting

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday boycotted an all-party meeting called by Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to decide on a delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and clear doubts over the issue of migrants in the State.

The government has postponed the meeting to November 12.

There was a lot of insecurity and misconception about the issue of Marathis and non-Marathis and this needed to be clarified, the government felt.

Some political leaders could not make it to the meeting. The Sena and BJP showed a clear disinclination to attend it. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Ramdas Kadam said that there was no formal invitation from Mr. Deshmukh and no agenda set. There was a phone call a few days ago about the meeting but nothing was specified, he said.

The party would consider the issue afresh if a proper letter was given, Mr. Kadam said.

Mr. Kadam said that he consulted Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who advised him against attending the meeting citing “lawlessness” in the State.

If we go as part of the delegation to the Prime Minister, it would be assumed that all was well with the State, Mr. Kadam said.

There was no need to emulate the Bihar leaders and come together like they did. They took up the issue of north Indian migrants, which was anyway chauvinistic, he added.