'Biharis will turn Maharashtra into another Bihar'

MUMBAI: Noted TV personality Shekhar Suman and film maker Prakash Jha on Monday held talks with Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray on the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena''s (BVS) stir against Biharis. The BVS is Shiv Sena''s student wing which Mr Thackeray heads.
Mr Suman and Mr Jha, who belong to Bihar, urged Mr Thackeray to start a dialogue with the Biharis in Mumbai in an attempt to remove the Sena''s misunderstanding about the community''s large presence in Mumbai.
Last Tuesday, BVS activists went on a rampage at the Bombay Central headquarters of the railway recruitment board. They were opposing the influx of job aspirants from Bihar for the 2,300 posts of gangmen and khalasis in the railways.
"Mr Suman and Mr Jha should find out the reason why Biharis are being disliked in Mumbai. The duo should advise members of their community on the elementary rules of public behaviour. A Bihari is seen as someone willing to bend rules to get his work done. We don''t want Maharashtra to be transformed into another Bihar," Mr Thackeray told TNN after talks with Mr Suman and Mr Jha.
Earlier in the day, Mr Thackeray held talks with party chief Bal Thackeray and apprised him of the fallout of the anti-Bihari agitation. Mr Raj Thackeray''s Sunday speech in Pune is clear indication that the Sena is in no mood to downscale its campaign against Bihari babus.
Stating that there was plot by the north Indians to "invade" major cities of Maharashtra, Raj said, "The north Indians get taxi and auto-rickshaw licenses in jiffy. Not only are they distorting Maharashtra''s culture, but are also robbing the state''s Marathi- speaking youth of their legitimate share in jobs. The north Indians have scant regard for professionalism, motivation or work culture."
"The influx from the north is swamping Pune, Sangli and other cities of Maharashtra." he added.