Take action against Raj Thackeray: Congress

With Raj Thackeray's outburst against north Indians and violence by his supporters in Mumbai snowballing into a major political controversy, the Congress on Monday said action should be taken against him if he has violated the law, including derecognition of his party.

All India Congresss Committee spokesman Abhishek Singhvi also said the "divisive agenda" propagated by Raj Thackeray was also pursued by his "mentor", Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

"Vandalism and violation of law and order by activists of Raj Thackeray's party and support by Shiv Sena is condemnable and totally unjustifiable," AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said condemning the violence in Mumbai.

He said Raj Thackeray's stand against communities in general and Biharis in particular was against the very concept of India.

"We cannot divide India as these parties are trying to do into narrow walls of obscurantism and intolerance. This is a divisive agenda not only of Raj Thackeray and his party, but also of his mentor and teacher Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sena," he said.

Asked if the Congress was for action against Raj Thackeray and his party, Singhvi said, "If it is found at the examination of facts that an offence has been committed under the IPC, and he has violated Representation of People's Act justifying derecognition of his party, then action should be taken."

He said an FIR has been registered against him that has to be investigated under the IPC and the CrPC.

Singhvi, however, said, "No knee-jerk reactions can be taken as they compound the problem."

"The state government will not tolerate any violation of law and order and it will be dealt with sternly," he said.

He accused Raj Thackeray of engaging in sensationalism to get media attention and termed the episode a "political stunt".

"These are absolutely divisive stunts which expose the absence of any concrete political programme of the party," Singhvi said.

"It is ironical that on the one hand we talk proudly of India's place in the global village, in transforming India. And on the other hand, we have such political formations who want to keep India as a village or in the backwaters," he said.

Singhvi noted that this kind of politics divides the nation and prejudices Indians. "It must be nipped in the bud," he said.

"Long-term popularity requires concrete political programmes, requires public interest initiatives instead of divisive politics and brinkmanship," he said.

On the report of the Srikrishna Commission that probed the Mumbai riots, he said there has already been an official statement on its report as well as the processing report.

He, however, added that the commission's report was not evidence.