The issue generated heat in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,with Shiv Sena and BJP making common cause over the issue. Congress hit back atthe Sena alleging it was attempting to provoke people through articles in itsmouthpiece 'Saamna'.
The Rajya Sabha witnessed embarrassment for BJP and ShivSena with key NDA ally JD(U) taking them to task for "communalremarks".
The Lok Sabha, which adjourned on the issue yesterday, sawSena leader Anant Geete seeing a conspiracy behind the violence saying thoseindulging in the incidents wanted to spread trouble across the country.
Referring to the reported statement of Maharashtra ChiefMinister Prithviraj Chavan suspecting foreign hand, he said the stategovernment had "completely failed" to check the violence and therewas need for the Centre to intervene as people are living in fear.
"It is necessary for the central government tointervene now," he said, adding it was unfortunate that Home MinisterSushilkumar Shinde had not made any statement on the matter though the violentincidents have been continuing for the past three days.
In the Rajya Sabha, BJP member Balbir Punj and Sena's SanjayRaut slammed the organisers of the agitation in Mumbai, saying they had nosympathy for native Bodos of Assam but supported the "foreigninfiltrators".
Since what he said in the House was inaudible in the din,Raut later said he demanded a judicial probe into the incidents, ban on Raza Academyfor organising the rally and cases of treason against those who damaged themartyr's memorial at Azad Maidan.
Raut questioned the relationship between the perpetrators ofviolence in Maharashtra and communal incidents in Bangladesh and Myanmar"that they are burning Mumbai for it."
Punj also asked how people in Mumbai could be responsiblefor violence in Myanmar.
The remarks drew sharp reaction from NDA ally JD(U)'s leaderShivanand Tiwari who demanded that such "language of the footpath"and "communal remarks" should be expunged from the records.
Raut later said he demanded a ban on the Raza Academy, anorganiser of the Mumbai protest, and cases of treason against those who damagedthe martyrs' memorial in the Azad Maidan. He alleged that Raza Academy hadorganised similar rallies earlier in which people have been killed.
The issue generated heat in the Upper House leading to itsadjournment for 10 minutes.
In the Lok Sabha, T Meinya, a Congress MP from Manipur, saidthe incidents in Assam and their repercussions and states like Maharashtra werea very serious matter. He said people from north east are being targeted inplaces like Pune and wanted the Home Ministry to issue advisory to states onhandling such issues.
Such situations have to be handled carefully, he said,adding that unity and integrity of the nation would have to be maintained.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said theHome Minister would make a statement in the House in the next few days.
Congress member Sanjay Nirupam termed the violence as"shameful and tragic" and said the entire process of investigationshould be handled in a sensitive manner so that innocents were not prosecuted.
Accusing Shiv Sena of communalising the atmosphere, Nirupamalleged that 'Saamna' was provoking people through its writings and wanted itto observe restraint.
Maintaining that 44 police personnel were injured and themartyrs' memorial damaged, he said the Raza Academy had sought properpermission for the programme and it did not expect a crowd of more than1,000-1,500.
"Some state ministers were also present at thefunction.
The violence started only after the programme endedpeacefully," Nirupam said.
In the Rajya Sabha, Punj said the kind of slogans that wereraised during the protest, which claimed two lives and left 54 injured, was amatter of concern.
"Everyone has a right to protest during demonstration.A protest has also taken place in New Delhi. But the manner in which thedemonstration was held in Mumbai, the kind of violence that happened andslogans raised were a matter of serious concern," he said.
The BJP leader wondered whether this violence was sponsoredand questioned Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who was present in the House,whether a Joint Secretary with the Home Ministry and in-charge of North Easthad not said that AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal assembled people for the Mumbaiprotest by making phone calls.
Punj asked the Home Minister "whether it was not truethat the officer changed his statement under your pressure."
"Did the central government inform the Maharashtragovernment regarding it? ... Maharashtra government did not make any effort tostop it and did not take any action due to vote bank politics," the BJPleader said.
Punj noted that it is being said action cannot be taken asit is the holy month of Ramzan, and asked if Shankaracharya can be arrested onDiwali what is the reason other than vote bank politics for not taking actionin this case.
"The government was a silent spectator as people weredragged and beaten," he said.
Raut asked how the Congress government of Maharashtra gavepermission to Raza Academy to take out a rally maintaining that people werekilled on earlier occasions also when the organisation took out such protestsand rallies.
