NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Bhujbal okays Thackeray, Azmi's prosecution

Our Correspondent in Bombay

Maharahtra Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Saturday granted permission to the Bombay Police to take action against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Samajwadi Party's Bombay unit president Abu Azmi for their alleged inflammatory editorials and speeches. The police had sought permission from the state government to prosecute these two leaders under Section 153 (A) of Indian Penal Code for inciting communal passions.

There were reports from various parts of Bombay that shops are being shut down. Already, those in Dadar and Parel have been closed and Shiv Sainiks are moving around forcing shopkeepers and business establishments to down shutters.

Section 153 (A) of the IPC relates to acts aimed at creating communal tensions or creating enmity between different religious groups or communities. The provisions of this act provide for 3 years' imprisonment and a fine. The provisions also cover inflammatory editorials, writings or speeches.

Speaking to newspersons in Bombay, Bhujbal disclosed that the police had sought permission to take action against Thackeray for the inflammatory editorials he had written in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' during the 1992-93 communal riots that broke out after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

Asked to comment upon the likely consequences of police action against Thackeray, Bhujbal stated that the state government is fully prepared to tackle any eventuality. Bhujbal reiterated that if the government failed to take action fearing a law and order problem, then it will be unable to take action against anyone.

The editorials in question are those titled Burning funeral pyres and Do not call Behrampada, Behrampada, call it Rampada.

The home minister stated that this particular case was a old one, which the previous Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government had hushed up. It had managed to withdraw many cases against the Sena chief, but could not bury this one.

About the file concerning Thackeray that was missing from his office, Bhujbal stated that the papers pertaining to the case were available in the concerned departments and the file could be revived any time.

Refferring to Azmi's case, he said that the state government had sent the audio cassette of his speech to the Central Bureau of Investigation for voice tests. The CBI had confirmed that the voice in the cassette was indeed that of Azmi.

While addressing a rally at Mastan Talao, Nagpada in March last, Azmi had angrily remarked that he was not bothered if the country endured another partition. The issue had been raised in the state assembly and Sena-BJP members stalled the proceedings demanding action against Azmi.

The home minister denied he was acting out of vengeance, saying that no one was above the law. He ruled out any leniency towards Azmi because he happened to be part of the ruling coalition in the state.

The government's action comes just ahead by the monsoon session of the state legislature, which is to start in Bombay on July 17. Agitated Sena legislators are bound to create an uproar over the issue.

SEE ALSO
Thackeray warns of trouble

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report