Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to save the lives of thousands of north Indians living in Mumbai and other parts of Maharastra.

Expressing deep concern over the threat to their lives by Raj Thakeray-led Maharastra Navnirman Sena, Mayawati has sought the prime minister's intervention "to bring an end to continued targeting of north Indians in general and UPites in particular .

She has sought to point out, "Whatever is happening in Maharastra is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution and should not be condoned under any circumstances."

"The Indian Constitution clearly entitles any Indian citizen to seek employment in any corner of the country; so Uttar Pradesh citizens were well within their right to earn a livelihood in distant Maharastra," she added.