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Maharashtra govt will move higher court

The Maharashtra government will appeal against a lower court's decision Tuesday to squash proceedings against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in a 1992-93 riots case.

"We will move a higher court in Thackeray's case," Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told a news conference at Vidhan Bhavan in Bombay and added that the court verdict was not a setback to his government.

"The government has substantial evidence against Thackeray...today we did not get the opportunity to present it before the court," the chief minister said.

He said Thackeray's prosecution was a "collective decision" and the government did what it thought necessary.

Deshmukh reiterated that his government remained committed to implement the Srikrishna Commission report, which is a scathing indictment of Thackeray role in inciting violence during the 1992-93 riots.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, also present on the occasion, said the accused (Bal Thackeray) had prayed for bail, but the court dismissed the case. "We are confident that our case is strong and we will get justice in the upper court," he said.

To a question, he said Thackeray's arrest was not his "mission" and added that he does not see the lower court verdict as a setback to his political career.

PTI

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