Delhi's Lt. Governor Joins Thackeray in Bashing North Indians
New Delhi: February 7, 2008
As if Raj Thackeray alone was not enough to divide the nation on regional basis, Delhi's equally divisive Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna on Thursday stirred up the pot when he made a blanket statement that people of north India 'took pride in breaking the nation's laws'.
"While people of South India usually remained within the law, the people of North India took pride and felt a sense of honor in violating the laws of the land, Khanna said while inaugurating a new traffic patrolling scheme by the Delhi Police.
Interestingly, despite pressure from nearly all quarters except from the Congress and his virtual partner in crime Raj Thackeray himself, Khanna refrained from backing out of his inflammatory statement insisting his statement was taken out of context by the media.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, while condemning Khanna for his extremely irresponsible statement against the North Indians, demanded from the Congress-led UPA government to clarify its stand on the issue and sack the Lt. Governor without further delay.
Former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that the Congress was looking for an excuse to save embarrassment and despite no ambiguity in Khanna's statement, it was talking about evidence that suggested Khanna in fact meant what he said on Thursday.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, reacting sharply on Khanna's provocative statement, said that people of North India did not need a certificate from anyone about their character and integrity.
"First it was the Delhi Governor who favored special identity cards for the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Now it's his deputy who is making irresponsible, divisive statement that are certain to incite regional hatred and ill-feeling among people from different regions," Kumar said.
Railway Minister and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, virtually giving a pass to Khanna, scolded him mildly saying people in high positions should watch their language and refrain from saying anything that may hurt the sentiments of people from other regions.
Meanwhile in Uttar Pradesh, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati lashed out at Khanna and demanded his removal in a letter written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"I have also asked about arresting Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for making inflammatory remarks but so far the Central government has chosen to ignore the sentiments and emotions of the people from the northern Indian states," she said.
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