PATNA/MUMBAI - Ticking off Shiv Sena for the second consecutive day over the migrant issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted that India is for all Indians and people have a right to go anywhere.

“I am really not interested in what Bal Thackeray or Raj Thackeray have to say. Frankly, I am interested in one concept that India belongs to Indians and every part of India belongs to every Indian”, he said at a press conference in Patna on Feb 2.

“People have a right to go anywhere. I am not going to remain silent and stop people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from going to Maharashtra,” Gandhi said on being asked about Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray criticizing him in party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’.

“In Mumbai (during the 26/11 attacks), men in the NSG were from Bihar, UP, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra. At that time they (Sena) did not say that those from Bihar and UP should be taken out. India has to move forward and all have to be taken forward,” he said.

Hitting back at the Congress leader, Thackeray said, Rahul Gandhi has “insulted” the bravery of martyrs like Hemant Karkare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar, Tukaram Omble, all daring Marathi policemen, and National Security Guard (NSG) Major Sandeep Unnikrishan.

“Where was Rahul Gandhi when Mumbai was attacked ?” asked Thackeray while terming the Congress leader’s comments as “anti-Marathi”.

Coming out strongly against the campaign that people hailing from UP and Bihar have no place in Maharashtra, Gandhi said, “Those who indulge in violence will be dealt with strictly by the Maharashtra Government.

“Strict action will be taken and action is being taken,” he said and added, “we do not tolerate this kind of stuff”.

Gandhi had on Feb 1 blasted Shiv Sena and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for their constant tirade against North Indians and had reminded them that the NSG men who vanquished Pakistani terrorists during the Mumbai attacks were from Bihar, UP and other places.

Both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, estranged cousins, have been campaigning against migrant labour from UP and Bihar in Mumbai.

The latest controversy cropped up over the move to make it mandatory for taxi drivers in Mumbai to be fluent in Marathi. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan favored the step but tried to make amends after public criticism, saying Gujarati and Hindi were also acceptable.             (PTI)