Congress MP supports Rahul comments on Maharashtra

MUMBAI - Congress MP from Mumbai North Sanjay Nirupam Saturday came out in support of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s comments on Maharashtra.

Gandhi had reportedly said during campaigning in Bihar polls that the people of Bihar were being thrown out of Maharashtra and Mumbai even though they had made a major contribution to the development of Maharashtra.

Whether it is the construction of the New Delhi Metro, agriculture in Punjab or other sectors in other states, Biharis (people of Bihar) have contributed strongly to the local state economy and also in nation building, Nirupam pointed out.

He said that the Congress neither believes in divisive politics nor does it belittle the people or their contributions from any region.

As far as the Congress is concerned, all people, irrespective of the region which they hail from, are hard working and the party does not discriminate against any particular community or group, he asserted.

He said that even in Mumbai, more than two-thirds of the population comprises the so-called outsiders who have played a major role along with local Marathis in the citys growth and progress on all fronts.

He castigated the Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackerays threats to launch an agitation against Rahul Gandhi in the state for his comments.

Nirupam’s comments are significant as he was in the Shiv Sena earlier and was a two-term Rajya Sabha MP.

He also claimed that in the past two decades there has been no development in Bihar and the people of the state are now ready for a change of guard.