New Delhi, February 02: Taking a tough official stand for the first time against the divisive politics of the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Union Home Minister P Chidambaram labelled it as a “pernicious thesis” and asserted that the financial capital belonged to all Indians who are free to live and work there.
“As a matter of policy we reject the theses of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. These are pernicious theses and have to be rejected… Mumbai belongs to all of India and all Indians are free to live and work in Mumbai,” Chidambaram said.
Seeing MNS’s divisive antinorth Indian “Marathi Manoos” tirade fetching rich dividends in the Assembly elections, Shiv Sena also joined the ugly game by raising slogans like “Mumbai for Maharashtrians”.
Coming hard against the Sena’s threats to Australian and Pakistani players’ participation in the Indian Premier League (, Chidambaram ensured providing full security to them.
“Let Australian players come to India. Let Pakistani players come to India. Let them play in Mumbai and I will guarantee them full security,” he asserted.
He, however, added that the Government of Maharashtra was competent to handle the situation.
–Agencies