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PIL in apex court seeks arrest of Raj Thackeray

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on February 22 a public interest litigation petition seeking a direction to the Maharashtra government to arrest Raj Thackeray, leader of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS), for allegedly fomenting violence by his remarks against north Indians living in Mumbai.

A Bench consisting of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishsnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran declined to grant early hearing when the petition, filed by advocate Arvind Shukla, was mentioned for urgent listing.

When it was submitted that the MNS was planning to stop trains in the State and there should be a restraint order, the Chief Justice told counsel: “It is not possible to prevent political parties from resorting to agitations.”

Mr. Shuka said Mr. Thackeray had been threatening north Indians through his party cadres with intent to gain political prominence.

He had been dividing the people in Maharashtra, forcing them into narrow confines of obscurantism and intolerance.

He said it was the duty of the state to protect the people and if it failed to do so, the court should give appropriate directions to the Executive.

The action of Mr. Thackeray and his utterances “threaten the very foundation of the Indian nation and are based on divisive regional politics for acquiring political benefits.”

The petitioner also sought a direction to the Election Commission to derecognise the MNS.

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