Nagpur, Nov. 22 The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday demanded action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray for trying to divide the country in the name of language and humiliating the lingua franca.

"It is vote bank politics and Raj Thackeray will not succeed in dividing the country in the name of opposition to Hindi language. Those humiliating the lingua franca in Maharashtra should be punished," VHP international President Ashok Singhal said.

Referring to the incident in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly where SP legislator Abu Azmi was manhandled for taking oath in Hindi, Singhal said humiliating the lingua franca is an open treason and its violators should be punished.

Singhal added that insult of 'Rashtrabhasha' from a small identity person, who is trying to create hatred among the people, couldn't be tolerated. (ANI)