Bihar: Protests against Raj Thackeray's Chhat statement

Hundreds of angry protestors across Bihar burnt effigies of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and condemned his remarks against North Indians and the Chhath festival on Thursday.

Angry mobs organised rallies against Thackeray, burnt his effigies and demanded action against the MNS supremo . Thackeray's statement, comparing the popular Chhath festival to a natak, evoked wide spread protests.

"Raj Thackeray should be punished for hurting millions of people in Bihar and in Uttar Pradesh by comparing Chhath festival to a natak," said Mahesh Singh, a protestor in Patna.

Political leaders, cutting across party lines, slammed the comment made by Raj Thackeray. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan criticised Thackeray's statement.

Without directly naming Thackeray, Nitish Kumar told reporters, "Some people have the habit of making remarks to continue being in the news. I only knew that Chhath is a most popular festival and it is a unique festival. People from every community participate in it and it is a display of self discipline."

In his characteristic style, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav advised Thackeray to celebrate Chhath festival, instead of making fun of it. "He should refrain from criticising Chhath because that may harm him, it is a festival with very strict rituals" warned Lalu.