Bihar, Maharashtra leaders spar over youth's killing

The war of words between political parties in Maharashtra and Bihar over the killing of a pistol-wielding youth in Mumbai escalated on Tuesday with Shiv Sena warning politicians from the eastern state "not to add fuel to the fire" and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar denouncing Sena's description of the youth as a "mafia".

Uddhav asked Railway Minister Lalu Prasad "not to meddle in Maharashtra's affair" and said Bihar leaders should not "add fuel to the fire" by making statements on the plight of north Indians in Mumbai.

Reacting to Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav's demand that Sena should be banned, Uddhav said, "real culprits of Bihari people are their own leaders."

"Bihari leaders should ask themselves why people from their state have to migrate to Mumbai to make a living," Uddhav said.

"I would advise Lalu Prasad not to meddle in Maharashtra's affair...Bihari leaders should be sensible. Don't add fuel to the fire," he said.

"Three of them-Lalu Prasad, Ramvilas Pawan and Nitish Kumar-came together on Monday. I urge them to stay united. It will help Bihar's cause," he added.

Referring to yesterday's shoot-out in suburban Kurla in which Bihari youth Rahul Raj was killed, Uddhav said "he had a pistol in his hand, he could have killed somebody. Police were under pressure. What were they expected to do?"

On the other hand, Kumar told reporters in Patna that why a young man carrying a country-made pistol, who could have been easily overpowered, was shot dead by the police and said a CBI probe will bring out the truth.

Referring to an article published in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Samna' in which Rahul Raj was described as a 'Bihari mafia", Kumar said "no no words are adequate to denounce it. A young man, who had recently completed a diploma in radiology and wanted to pursue a decent career cannot be described as mafia."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said the issue should not be politicised.

"I think this is being politicised. There will be an inquiry (into the incident) soon. After the inquiry, we will know the real reason. I do not approve of politicising such issues", Patil said.

Kumar criticised Patil's justification of the police action against Rahul Raj and said "people in top public office should not talk like this. Instead of applying balm on the wounds, they are inflaming matters", he said adding Patil should not have made the remarks.