NEW DELHI: Determined to wrest Delhi from the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is going to rake up the issue of attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra during the assembly elections here.
BJP's chief minister hopeful VK Malhotra made it clear that his party believed that any Indian was free to live and work in any state of the country.
The BJP decision comes after Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirnam Sena (MNS) carried out a string of attacks against north Indians, particularly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
"This is definitely going to be an issue in the elections," Malhotra told IANS. "It will be part of our manifesto and campaign. We respect people from all states and firmly believe that everyone has an equal right to live in the city. For us everyone is equal."
But Malhotra sought to blame the Congress for the Maharashtra violence.
"The problem in Maharashtra had been created by the Congress, which allowed Raj Thackeray a free run against north Indians," he said.
People from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar form a substantial chunk of Delhi's population, and BJP campaign managers say they are determined to be on their side -- even if it means rubbing Raj Thackeray the wrong way.
In contrast to the BJP, the Congress in Delhi has no intention of making the violence in Congress-ruled Maharashtra a campaign issue.
"I don't think it will become an issue in the Delhi elections. People from different background and states come here, work and live. We welcome and respect all of them," said Delhi Congress chief JP Aggarwal.
Delhi Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf, a Congress leader, condemned the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra and said it was "the handiwork of some people who want to divide the country".
BJP leader Vijay Jolly, who is pitted against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi constituency, agreed.
"I will bat for north Indians for sure. I am very disappointed and dismayed with what has taken place. A young politician like Raj should not think on the basis of region," he added.
Jolly added: "Biharis have a long tradition of serving the country. They are a part of the bureaucracy and Indian Police Service and also academics."
Polling in Delhi is scheduled for Nov 29 and vote counting will take place Dec 8.
