The Centre on Monday dubbed MNS chief Raj Thackeray's brand of politics in Maharasthra as "regional terrorism" and warned it would pose a threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

"We can simply call it a 'regional terrorism'. This will affect the unity and integrity of the country," the Minister of state for Home Shakeel Ahmed said.

Asked whether the Congress-led coalition government in Maharashtra lacked political will to take on Raj, Ahmed said Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was going to take action and that he has already talked to Home minister and NCP leader R R Patil in this regard.

"In the name of helping Maharashtrians by standing for their cause Raj Thackeray and his goons are affecting the interests of Maharashtra also," Ahmed cautioned, adding that people from the state living elsewhere in the country could face a backlash.

Pressing for action against the MNS leader, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Rebeiro said Raj should be booked as quickly as possible.

"He should be nipped in the bud," he said and wondered whether the state government was "toothless" in proceeding against Raj.