Mumbai, Oct. 4 (PTI): Targeting North Indians yet again, this time over a proposed autorickshaw strike, MNS chief Raj Thackeray today alleged that most of the auto drivers caught indulging in malpractices “were from UP and Bihar”.

“Over 95 per cent of automen caught indulging in malpractices were from UP and Bihar,” Raj told reporters and threatened that his party would “step in” if commuters suffer due to the “arrogant” behaviour of autodrivers.

“All such people are coming from outside states.... They are staying in Mumbai and Thane using bogus documents,” he said while lashing out at trade unionist Sharad Rao whose Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union has threatened to go on an indefinite strike next month. “My appeal to Marathi automen is not to side with such people,” he added.

Raj said: “The culture prevalent in places where they come from, they want to bring in the same culture here in Mumbai and Maharashtra.”

Flaying Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi for supporting the cause of automen, Raj said: “The reason why Abu supports them is because they also come from the same place like Azamgarh.”