Eknath Khadse slams Raj Thackeray for remarks over Yakub Memon's hanging

Mumbai: Slamming MNS chief Raj Thackeray for criticising BJP over the hanging of 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon, state Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse on Wednesday said everybody in Maharashtra knows who has the history of making "fiery" and "provocative" speeches.

"Everybody in Maharashtra knows who has been going to what limits to bring a riot-like situation in the state. The BJP has never supported this (provocative speeches) because we are a peace loving party," Khadse told reporters when asked to comment on Thackeray's remarks.

"History is proof that none of our leader has ever given a speech that would incite communal violence nor have we ever supported people with such mentality. People also know who has a history of giving such fiery and provocative speeches that have high scope of flaring communal sentiments," he said.

Thackeray, while addressing a gathering in Thane, had recently alleged that the BJP-led Centre and the state government had made Memon's hanging episode a "drama" and looking at the turn of events preceding and succeeding the execution, it seems that the party wanted a "riot like situation" to break in the country.

He had also alleged that BJP was a "corrupt party" and that there was no difference between it and the previous Congress and the NCP.

Responding to his charge, Khadse challenged the MNS chief to submit proof of corrupt practices in the government and not make "general statements."

"Like a responsible citizen, he (Thackeray) should declare the names of corrupt people in our government backed with proofs. We are ready to inquire into his charges. But giving general statements won't help anybody except his party workers who really need a pep talk to boost their morale after losing relevance in the state post their disastrous performance in the state Assembly elections," he said.