New Delhi, Nov. 10 Highlighting the hypocrisy of the Raj Thackray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Asim Azmi on Tuesday accused the MNS of having resorted to the Hindi language while seeking votes during elections.

On Monday, Azmi was manhandled by MNS legislators for taking oath of office in Hindi in the State Assembly.

"The very same MNS people who are spreading hatred, resort to Hindi during elections as they go about asking for votes in Maharashtra. Their CD's, pamphlets, all are in Hindi. For asking votes, Hindi is good, but they raise objection if some official work like oath taking is held in Hindi language," he said.

"Yesterday it was proved that they have nothing against English. If somebody takes oath in English in Maharashtra assembly, they will have no objection, but if anybody takes oath in Hindi, which is the official language, they will be manhandled," Azmi added.

Azmi was also criticised by senior Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackeray for taking oath in Hindi.

"Balasaheb Thackeray is very unhappy. He is almost on the last stage of his life. He is very angry with the Marathi people and he says he does not even want to die in Maharashtra, as Marathi people did not vote for him. When a person grows old, he starts speaking like a child, I respect him and I do not want to stoop low, by speaking anything against him," Azmi said.

On Monday, as Azmi started to take his oath in Hindi, several MNS members swooped on him and pushed him aside. Legislator Ramesh Banjle uprooted the microphone from the podium.

As Azmi attempted to save himself, MNS member Ram Kadam slapped him and hit him on the face and chest, shocking the 288-member house that had converged for the oath-taking ceremony.

The house was adjourned for 30 minutes. Action followed soon, with four MNS legislators-Vasant Geete, Shishir Shinde, Ram Kadam and Ramesh Wanjale-were suspended for four years by the pro-tem speaker for the violent incident. (ANI)