From correspondents in Bihar, India, 03:02 PM IST
Noted Bhojpuri actor and singer Manoj Tiwari was stoned in Bihar's Nalanda district after he voiced support to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, police said Saturday.
Tiwari faced a hostile crowd during his musical programme Friday night at the Nalanda College in Biharsharief, the district headquarters of Nalanda, about 90 km from here.
The MNS's anti-north Indian campaign in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra in February had sparked incidents of violence against migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
After Tiwari's remarks supporting Thackeray, a section of youths started shouting slogans and pelting stones at him. Tiwari was protected by security personnel and organisers.
The police detained a few young men after using batons to disperse the mob, leaving dozens of people injured. The musical programme was cancelled.
Three days ago, Tiwari appealed to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad not to go to Mumbai to celebrate the Chhath festival, which the MNS does not approve of.
'Lalu Bhaiya's going to Mumbai to celebrate Chhath will only create tension and trouble for the north Indians residing there,' the actor said.
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Truth does not mean empirical accounts of what happens, but what is good for society. What the actor said was based on pragmatic wisdom and statesmanship with foresight. But in a highly politicised matter involving MNS' objecgtion to mass inflows of UP and Bihar people into Mumbai at the expense of locals, such truth which helps people, will not find favour, since politicians do not have commoners' welfare in their hearts.
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