New Delhi, April 16: Samajwadi MP Jaya Bachchan on Wednesday led a walk out by party MPs in Rajya Sabha after she was refused permission to raise the issue of anti-north Indians campaign in Maharashtra of which her husband Amitabh Bachchan was the most visible target.

During the Question Hour, Jaya strongly objected to Shiv Sena MP Manohar Joshi's comment that there was "no anti-migrant drive" in Maharashtra. Joshi's remarks on regional pride and insistence that jobs should go to local people drew sharp criticism from the SP, other Third Front constituents like TDP and JD(U) and the Left.

Replying to the question from Joshi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said there was no renewed anti-migrant drive in Maharashtra following which Jaya wanted to raise a question. But Chairman Hamid Ansari ruled that only three supplementaries would be allowed during the Question Hour prompting Bachchan to stage a walkout of the House.

Other party members followed suit. Maharashtra has recently seen Shiv Sena's breakaway faction Maharashtra Navnirman Sena speaking against migrant north-Indians and has also been accused of instigating violence against them. The MNS has targeted Amitabh Bachchan, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, questioning his contribution to Maharashtra where he had spent several decades and saying he was more loyal to his home state.