Lalu, Sushil Modi to Observe Chhath in Mumbai
Patna: May 4, 2008
 Separatist Marathi leader Raj Thackeray who has been on a warpath against the north Indians in an obvious attempt to establish his political supremacy in Maharashtra may have much to whine about when the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi perform Chhath in Mumbai this year in defiance of his diktat as announced by both Bihar leaders on Sunday.
Reacting to Thackeray's renewed hate-filled tirade against the north Indians, RJD MP from Patna Ram Kripal Yadav, speaking on behalf of the Railway Minister, said Lalu Prasad Yadav would celebrate Chhath in Mumbai this year and he would like to see what Thackeray could do about it.
"If Raj Thackeray thinks we would be shaking with fear when a coward like himself threatens an entire section of the nation, then he is sorely mistaken. Lalu Prasad Yadav would go to Mumbai and celebrate Chhath and we dare Thackeray to do whatever he pleases to do," said the RJD MP adding the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief either belonged in a mental institute or a jail and had no place in the political structure of the country.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, agreeing with the Railway Minister on the Maharashtra issue, said he would also perform Chhath on Mumbai's beaches and would like to see what Thackeray, who is hoping to assume the role of Mumbai's godfather currently upheld by none other than his own uncle Bal Thackeray, would do to stop him from doing so.
"If Thackeray is so allergic to sun worship, perhaps he should stop using sunlight," Modi jested.
Issuing warning to the Congress leadership at the Center, Modi said that if the UPA government did not rein in the Maharashtra menace before further damage is done, it might as well be giving birth to yet another extremist like the Bhinderwale of Punjab, Barua of Assam, and Laldenga of Mijoram.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Ghafoor on Sunday said the police were closely analyzing the 70-minute speech of Thackeray that he made on Saturday for any anti-national rhetoric.
"If we find any hint of hate speech against any community, we would not hesitate in arresting Mr. Thackeray," said Ghafoor.
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