In a new turn to the row over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray’s comments against non-Maharashtrians, supporters followed up clashes on the streets with an attack on Amitabh Bachchan’s Mumbai residence last night. The Centre today asked the state government to take all steps to maintain law and order.

The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, filed a petition with the Election Commission demanding de-registration of MNS. SP general secretary Amar Singh said action should be taken because Raj Thackeray had been issuing “veiled as well as open threats” to non-Maharashtrians and “exhorting his party cadres to perpetrate acts of violence” against them. He also lodged an FIR against Raj Thackeray.

MNS activists clashed with SP workers yesterday, attacked two theatres screening Bhojpuri films and assaulted several North Indian taxi drivers and vendors in central Mumbai.

Late last night, two motorcycle-borne youths threw glass bottles at Bachchan’s residence Prateeksha in Juhu. The attack followed Raj Thackeray’s comments questioning the star’s allegiance to Maharashtra and accusing him of being more loyal to native Uttar Pradesh.

Bachchan, who’s in Jaipur with family and Amar Singh to celebrate son Abhishek’s birthday, refused comment, but security was stepped up at his Mumbai homes.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said stern action would be taken against the guilty. “There will be full protection for those living in Mumbai,” he said.