BJP legislator Raghubar Das (second from left) at Kishore Sangh, Bhalubasa. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Oct. 31: BJP legislator from Jamshedpur (East) Raghubar Das today demanded compensation for state youths who have lost their lives in the Mumbai clashes and threatened to launch a hunger strike in front of the chief minister’s residence if the government failed to meet the demand within a week.

Speaking at a news conference today, Das also tried to push pressure on the chief minister to address the Marathi and non-Marathi issue with his Maharashtra counterpart and the Centre.

Das in his speech mentioned Ramu Das, Khunit and Sakaldev of Dhanbad and steel city youth M. Rajeshwar — all allegedly victims of the Mumbai violence — whose families deserved justice. The legislator also lambasted the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief, Raj Thackeray, for indulging in anti-North Indian tirade.

“It’s shocking that the government has remained mute on the issue of compensation. It seems that it is least concerned for the family of those who have lost their lives in the hate crimes back in Mumbai. It is time that the government raises its voice against MNS and seeks its ban,” said Das. He went on to demand independent inquiries into the murders of the three youths.

“We are still not aware of what happened to Ramu Das whose dead body has not been found yet. The government should talk to its Maharashtra counterpart and raise this issue,” added Das.

On September 23, Das had written to chief minister Shibu Soren urging him to ensure that victims receive compensation. But, he added, that the government failed to take action.

Das termed the younger Thackeray’s action as “anti national”.

The legislator, however, kept Shiv Sena and its chief away from the controversy and said: “We are concerned about the party that is behind the murder of our youths Sena is an ally of the BJP at the Centre.”