Patna:
Migrants from Bihar are no more threatened in Maharashtra following stern action taken by the state government, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said on Monday.
"We had taken punitive measures against MNS supremo Raj Thackeray and his goons and lodged several cases against them in order to secure the safety and livelihood of migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," Bhujbal told reporters.
Not only are the migrants from Bihar and UP safe and earning their livelihood, but their numbers have increased due to the availability of more employment opportunities in various parts of Maharashtra, the senior NCP leader claimed.
The state government as well as its people have affection and respect for the migrants, he said.
Bhujbal, at the same time, hit out at the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for its "failure" to set up industries and other employment avenues to provide jobs for its own people and said that the migration of people from Bihar was a major indication of the failure of the state government to take the state out of backwardness and poverty.
The Centre has been generous to 'BIMARU' states, including Bihar, in terms of allocation of more funds for development, but the NDA government has grossly failed to bring in the much-needed development and ameliorate the condition of its people, the deputy CM said.
Bhujbal also attacked Kumar for his secular credentials and said that he could not claim to be a secular leader as long as he remained with the BJP.
Bhujbal was here to campaign for NCP candidates in Seemanchal region of Bihar.