North-Indians are Mumbai's life-line: Paswan

Terming north-Indians as the life-line of Mumbai, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said that anti-people forces like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena were trying to divide the nation.

"Maharashtra has 57 per cent of north Indians who are toiling for the progress of the state and nation. MNS and Bal Thackeray would face a severe repercussion of their drive, to separate people, on the basis of region or language," said Paswan.

"All milkmen, taxi drivers, green grocers and labourers in Mumbai are from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. North Indians are the life line of Mumbai," he said.

Terming Bal Thackeray's editorial against Biharis in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna as futile, Paswan asked people to unite and stand tall against such forces.

"I have already asked the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter. If need arises, the party will again approach him for strict action against Raj Thackeray," he said.

Accusing both Chacha-Bhatija (Bal Thackeray and nephew Raj Thackeray) of leading a campaign against north-Indians for vested political gains, he said, "It's time they stopped playing with the sentiments of people."