RANCHI: Hitting out at the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena for making provocative statements against north Indians, RJD chief Lalu Prasad said the supporters of the Sangh parivar were posing a "challenge" to national unity.

He said the Constitution is against intolerance on grounds of region and religion and secular people should unite to defeat the "designs" of communal forces. "The BJP is a mask and is backed by the Sangh Parivar. Its supporters like the Shiv Sena are posing a challenge to national unity," he said addressing a 'Chetna' rally by his party here.

He said communal forces, who failed to prevent demolition of mosques and attacks on temples were challenging the unity of the nation. RJD, he said, had supported the secular forces only to keep BJP out of power and would continue to do so in future.

"We will not allow communal forces to disturb our social harmony and RJD will make whatever sacrifices necessary to preserve our social fabric," he said. Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Rabri Devi appealed to the people not to allow BJP return to power.

"The previous NDA governments, be it at the Centre, in Jharkhand or the present government in Bihar - their policies had have only affected the poor," she claimed.