Police register cases against Raj Thackeray, Abu Azmi

The police have registered cases against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi under IPC 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots), IPC 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence, etc.) and IPC 153 B (imputations, assertions, prejudicial to national integration).

Joint Commissioner of Police, K.L. Prasad said the charges were cognizable and non-bailable. The accused would be required to seek bail from the court. He refused to say when they would be arrested and maintained that investigations were on.

Both leaders declared that they would not seek bail. While an MNS spokesman said Mr. Thackeray was ready to face action for the sake of Marathis, Mr. Azmi said he was in his office and not making any move to get anticipatory bail.

Mr. Azmi said the offences registered against Mr. Thackeray were too mild. He wanted the police to book the MNS leader for rioting.

Last week, north Indians were attacked after Mr. Thackeray took exception to the celebration of Uttar Pradesh Day and “Chhat Puja” here.

The SP leader retaliated, saying he would arm north Indians with “lathis.”

Sign boards smashed

On Monday, about 200 activists of the Shiv Sena attacked shops and eating houses in the pilgrim centre of Shirdi and smashed the sign boards written in Tamil and Telugu. The police arrested 40 of them.

Sena leader Baba Dhumal said the establishments had non-Marathi boards despite a government order.

An official said the shops were told to have boards with names in Marathi, followed by other languages.

In Mumbai, Sainiks blackened the boards at the airport announcing, “Mumbai International Airport Ltd. Welcomes You.”

Their argument was that a private company could not welcome passengers and the welcome signs should be in the name of the city as their leader Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday.

News Source : Samachar