MUMBAI: In a severe jolt to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on its agitation over Marathi signboards, Raj Thackeray will now find it difficult to get past the new Bombay High Court orders issued against them on Thursday. However, minutes after the court orders were issued, Raj appeared before the media at his residence in Dadar suburb, visibly mellowed down.
The high court orders by a bench comprising Justice J.N. Patel and Justice S.A. Tated leave no room for ambiguity. Raj and his MNS cannot take to streets or protest against traders not putting up Marathi signboards; they cannot damage any establishments in protest; they cannot make any intimidating gestures or issue any threats to the trader class; and even cannot make any public speeches or issue statements regarding the issue. The court ordered the Maharashtra government to serve gag order on the MNS supremo so as to tame him. Patel first condemned the Maharashtra government before issuing the stringent orders.
Patel said, “He cannot hold people to ransom. What is his authority to issue such a letter? What action is the state government taking so that there is no riot or loss of life or property?”
“Or is the Maharashtra government not competent to handle this issue? Are you trying to justify this kind of violence by not acting? What is the state government doing till now? This matter has been going on for a week. We (high court) hold you (state government) responsible if a riot happens despite whatever preventive steps you take. You must give a statement that if a riot happens, you will pay compensation or you will recover it from those who have caused the riots,” Patel said.
