Nirupam’s North Indian comments stoke outrage

Mumbai: Controversy erupted over Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam’s remarks that Mumbai and its people would not get food to eat would come to a standstill if North Indians stop working even for a day. The MNS, responding strongly to his comments, compared him to a dog and displaying banners against the leader.

Meanwhile, with a large number of migrant workers from Hindi-belt states leaving Gujarat following alleged attacks on them there, Mr Nirupam has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it must be remembered he has to contest election from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Nirupam had said the North Indian community had always expressed gratitude towards Mumbai and Maharashtra. “It is the North Indian community which runs the lives of or shoulders the burden of the people of Mumbai,” Mr Nirupam had said at an event of north Indians at Nagpur on Sunday night. BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha had also attended the event.

Meanwhile, while talking on Gujarat issue, Mr Nirupam also said that the people of Varanasi had embraced Modi and “made him Prime Minister despite his lies”.