Rejecting charges that the Centre had not acted effectively to bring the situation in Maharashtra under control, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Tuesday that at least three advisories have been sent to the state government in the wake of attacks on north Indians.

Responding to concerns raised during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha over the spate of attacks, Patil said "we have issued three advisories to the state government."

"We have expressed our anguish and anger and I have also personally talked to the Chief Minister on the issue."

"Anyone from any part of the country can work and live anywhere. No one can stop them. What has happened, should not happen in Maharashtra or anywhere. That is as it should be," he added.

Not satisfied by the Home Minister's reply on the issue, the opposition staged a walkout after which Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan adjourned the House for an hour.

The opposition insisted that Patil should clarify if the advisories have been issued under Article 355 and also tell the House the dates on which the letters were sent to the state government.

"When we issue advisories to the states we do not specify that it is under Article 355 or any other article. It asks the government to take appropriate action failing which the Centre would be forced to use further provisions under the law," Patil said.

"The letters issued are dated 19th, 20th, 21st (today) and... 20th," he added.

"We do not subscribe to the idea of divisive politics. I also do not doubt that the state government lack any intention to curb such elements," Patil said.

Replying to the discussion on attacks on north Indians, Patil said, "I think none of us subscribe to the view (of attacking people from other parts of the country working at some place)."

"If someone has a different view they should be engaged in talks and even then if they do not understand, proper action need to be taken against them."

The opposition benches tried to raise the question why the National Security Act was not invoked against those responsible for the attacks on north Indians. "The law must take its own course and no leniency will be shown to anyone," Patil added.

Patil called on the government to work towards building unity and peace and protect the rights of every person as enshrined in the Constitution.

"What we have witnessed is narrow-mindedness, short-mindedness and parochialism, which we need to fight. And (what) we have discussed here (in the Upper House during discussion) is politics. We should avoid this," he said.

"We can have solution to this problem not by politics but by (adopting a) correct attitude," he added.

Patil said the country today is facing two kinds of tendencies - one which tries to divide the country and the other which aims at uniting. "We need to curb and discourage the tendencies which divide the society," he said.