Abu Azmi slams Bal Thackeray over opposition to Chhath Puja

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi has slammed Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for allegedly opposing Chhath Puja, a major Hindu festival which is mostly celebrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi has slammed Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for allegedly opposing Chhath Puja, a major Hindu festival which is mostly celebrated in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
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"Why Bal Thackeray tries to stop this? Every person is entitled to offer prayers he wants to. Festival should be celebrated in full strength. Though I am a Muslim, but even then I will go to attend this festival," he told the media here.
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The Shiv Sena in the past has often targeted north Indians, especially those hailing from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
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Azmi further accused Congress party of using the divide and rule tactics to garner vote for the upcoming municipal elections in Mumbai.
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"This is being done intentionally. This Congress party is using the divide and rule tactics by making parties of Raj Thackeray and Bal Thackeray fight with each other. They want to take vote because this is election time," he said.