Patna,(BiharTimes): Legislators in Bihar Assembly, cutting across the party line, on Thursday strongly denounced the remarks of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief, Raj Thackeray, that the autorickshaws belonging to non-Marathi speaking owners (in his state)should be set on fire.

They demanded intervention by the prime minister Narendra Modi for the alleged hate-speech of the MNS chief. Even the BJP MLAs joined the chorus notwithstanding the fact that the BJP-Shiv Sena government is in power in Maharashtra and no action has been taken against Raj Thackeray. Till recently he had a very cordial relationship with the saffron party leaders, including Narendra Modi himself.

Senior JD(U) leader and deputy leader in the Legislative Assembly Shyam Rajak raised the issue during Zero hour and demanded from the PM to initiate action against MNS chief. He urged the House to pass a resolution to assail the statement of the MNS chief. He was backed by RJD leader Lalit Yadav. Deputy chief minister and RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav came down hevily on Prime Minister as his party, which is in power in Maharashtra, has failed to take any action against Raj Thackeray. He said Narendra Modi talks about ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ but no action has been taken against a leader who repeatedly indulges in hate politics in his state.

BJP MLAs Nitin Navin and Sanjay Sarawgi also flayed MNS chief for the hate comment. Chief minister Nitish Kumar was then not in the House. Thackeray had on Wednesday charged that 70 per cent of new
autorickshaw permits were given to non-Marathis. He went on to threaten that his party workers would set ablaze these vehicles if they were seen plying on roads.