MNS faces the wrath of parties across India

MUMBAI: The attack on Abu Asim Azmi by four MLAs of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS for taking the oath in Hindi has been severely condemned by several national leaders. Strong reactions denouncing the MNS and demanding stern action against the party poured in from across the country.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar demanded action under the criminal procedure code against the legislators concerned."We respect Marathi, but at the same time it is intolerable to allow people to show disrespect to the national language, Hindi.'' he said.
LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan demanded derecognition of the MNS. "We have urged the Election Commission to immediately ban or derecognise the MNS for indulging in anti-national activities,'' he said, demanding that the government book Thackeray for treason.
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav described the attack as "anti-national''.
The Congress too joined the chorus of protests. "This is not only an attempt to humiliate Hindi but also against the Constitution,'' said senior party leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi.
Condemning the attack on his party legislator, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Azmi had done the nation proud by taking the oath in the national language. "I would like to congratulate Azmi for maintaining the honour of the national language by taking oath in Hindi,'' he said.
RJD chief Lalu Prasad said if urgent efforts were not taken to check divisive forces, the country could disintegrate. "If India splits, it will be because of elements like Raj Thackeray. If urgent steps are not taken to keep such elements under check, nobody can save the country from disintegration,'' he warned. The BJP has sought an explanation from the Congress-NCP combine for allowing the MNS to "emerge in the shape that it has''.