The Maharashtra government will not hesitate to arrest Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi if there is 'strong evidence' of their involvement in recent violence sparked by the MNS' anti-north Indian campaign, deputy chief minister R R Patil said on Thursday.

"If there is strong evidence, we will arrest both Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi," Patil said.

He said the police are capable of handling the situation in the event of Raj's arrest and the government was not afraid of arresting the MNS chief.

The state government has sent a report to the Centre on the action taken and arrests made in connection with the recent incidents of violence in the city, he said. "The Centre had expressed its satisfaction over the action taken by us," Patil said.

Patil also said that he had not received any report from the advocate general so far. "If there is any such report, it will be sent to the police commissioner and not to me," he said.

Appealing to the people to maintain peace, Patil said violence was only a by-product of politics between two parties.

"This has led to straining of relations between Maharashtrians and north Indians," he said.

He pointed out that out of 12 crore Maharashtrians, 2 crore live outside the state. "The constitution gives the right to every citizen in the country to live in Mumbai," he said.