Raj Thackerays philosophy that the trend of migration needed to be reversed received support on Monday from an unexpected quarter with Uttarakhand CM B C Khanduri agreeing with him and saying that it was essential to develop rural areas to achieve this. Khanduris comments came in response to questions from reporters about the violence against migrants in Maharashtra last year by local political groups such as the MNS. But he refused to be drawn into a discussion about the violent methods of Thackeray or the political future of the MNS and added that there could be no restrictions on the movement of people within the country. It is necessary to reverse the process, Khanduri said referring to migration,adding that it was necessary to have a policy to develop villages for the purpose. This trend is not proper, he said,adding that it also bode ill for the health of the country. Providing facilities and employment opportunities in rural areas would help buck the trend. Khanduri rued that post-independence,the focus had been on the development of cities and not villages.
