Bal Thackeray defends Bachchan

Centre tells state to check violence.

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today sprang to the defence of Amitabh Bachchan, numbing the campaign by his nephew and splinter Sena leader Raj Thackeray against the star and North Indians, even as Mumbai limped back to normalcy after three days of violence.

With the Centre pressing the Maharashtra government to take immediate steps against those indulging in violence, the city police appealed to Raj to restrain the cadre of his party "" Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) "" from fuelling the campaign against North Indians.

Taking on Raj for his personal attack against Bachchan that the star always gave priority to Uttar Pradesh over Maharashtra, Bal Thackeray said in a statement: "The allegations are nothing but stupidity."

"Amitabh is Amitabh..He should ignore such allegations," said Thackeray, who turned 82 last month.

"Amitabh is a family friend. The friendship goes back 40 years during which it has not even diminished. Bachchan is a global superstar and is respected all over the world. He has always expressed his gratitude to Mumbai and the people for giving him fame," Thackeray said in comments exposing the divide in the Thackeray family.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said in Delhi that the Maharashtra government had been asked to provide protection to those who may require it. "Mumbai has always been a symbol of unity, which in no case should be disturbed or allowed to be disturbed and damaged," said Patil.

There were no major incidents barring two autorickshaws being torched in Oshiwara and an attack on a textile shop in Matunga.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone V) D M Phadtare said he met Raj to also enquire whether security cover around his residence was enough.

As a fallout of the violence, two inspectors were suspended while an inquiry instituted against an Assistant Commissioner of Police for not taking any action against MNS workers indulging in violence in Dadar on Sunday.

Meanwhile, MNS activists interrupted the show of Bhojpuri film 'Bhojpuri Bhayya' in Pune. The activists forced viewers out of the theatre and shouted anti-North Indian slogans before fleeing from the scene.

Bihar's minister for parliamentary affairs Rameshwar Prasad, who was in the state on private visit to Shirdi, advised Biharis to adapt to the local culture.

"Though Bihar is the 'janmabhoomi', Mumbai is the 'karmabhoomi'. Therefore, they must adopt local culture," he said.