Uddhav dares Nirupam to bring Mumbai to halt

Criticising Congress Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam's statement concerning north Indians, Shiv Sena on Monday challenged him to bring Mumbai to a halt.

Nirupam, while addressing a public rally in Nagpur on Sunday, had indirectly targeted Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena for the attacks on north Indians in the state.

"North Indians could bring Mumbai to a halt if they chose to," he had said.

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray warned Nirupam of dire consequences if he dared to bring the city to a halt, as he has threatened to.

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Thackeray alleged that Nirupam has raked up controversy to grab media attention. "He is doing all this to grab the media limelight. The elections are round the corner and his statement is aimed at dividing the Marathi vote-bank," the Sena leader told mediapersons in Mumbai.

"During the 1992-93 Mumbai riots, the Shiv Sena had given protection to the north Indians," he said.

Thackeray also sought to know whether the Congress party endorsed Nirupam's statements.

However, Congress distanced itself from the issue saying, Nirupam's statement was his "personal view".

"It is his personal view. And Congress has nothing to do with it. The party has never taken such a stand. I do not have all the information about what he (Nirupam) said. I will have to check in what context he said this," Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Anant Gadgil said.