"BJP Used Raj Thackeray As Pawn, Cut Him To Size When...": NCP

Latching onto an Uttar Pradesh-based BJP MP's warning to Raj Thackeray that he would not be allowed to enter Ayodhya till he apologised for "humiliating" north Indians, the NCP on Thursday accused the BJP of using the MNS chief as a pawn and cutting him to size as he showed signs of getting bigger.

Maharashtra NCP's chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase also accused the BJP of following the use-and-throw policy and added that Raj Thackeray "will have to pay for his own karma".

Mr Tapase was referring to an old agitation of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which earlier raised the cause of sons-of-the soil against north Indian students appearing for railway examination in Kalyan in the state.

BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Thursday opposed Mr Thackeray's proposed visit to Ayodhya on June 5 and warned that he will not be allowed to enter the Uttar Pradesh city till he tendered a public apology for humiliating north Indians.

The MP from Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency and one of the leaders of the Ram Mandir movement, in a tweet said, "Will not allow Raj Thackeray, who humiliates north Indians, enter the Ayodhya border." "Before coming to Ayodhya, Raj Thackeray should apologise to all North Indians with folded hands," he said.

Mr Thackeray of late made a strong pitch for removing loudspeakers from mosques and added failure in doing so would lead to MNS workers playing 'Hanuman Chalisa' outside these religious places. "The BJP has snapped Thackeray's Hindtuva kite before it flew higher. One has to pay for his/her karma," Maharashtra NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said in a statement.

Mr Thackeray had recently praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the latter's decision removing loudspeakers from religious structures in that state.

Referring to the same, Mr Tapase asked whether Yogi Adityanath "who was praised" by Thackeray would meet the MNS chief "against the sentiment" of the people of Uttar Pradesh.

Another NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said Thackeray had played the 'Marathi Manoos' card and "ill-treated" north Indians.

Mr Thackeray, Mr Crasto charged, did nothing for Maharashtra and now is allegedly trying to woo the same north Indians to remain relevant in politics.

"BJP used him as a pawn and when he showed signs of getting bigger, they are cutting him to size," Mr Crasto said on Twitter.

The NCP functionary also accused the BJP of hitting two birds with one stone, gaining sympathy of north Indians through their Parliamentarian, who gave the warning and on the other hand, cutting Mr Thackeray to size.