Three Mumbai-based lawyers have written a letter to the Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP), requesting legal action against the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) over recent alleged attacks on non-Marathi speaking individuals by party workers, reported news agency PTI.
The letter specifically referenced a speech given by MNS chief Raj Thackeray at a rally in Mumbai`s Worli area on 5th July. It claimed that Thackeray made inflammatory and inciting statements against non-Marathi speaking people, which subsequently led to party activists adopting an aggressive stance against common citizens, assaulting local shopkeepers, and issuing threats.
Stating that such incidents threaten the unity, peace, and integrity of the nation, the letter has urged the police to take action under the National Security Act (NSA) against the main conspirators and “anti-national” elements, reported PTI.
Moreover, the letter, penned by advocates Pankaj Mishra, Nityanand Sharma, and Ashish Rai, described these incidents as “serious and unlawful situations that threaten social harmony and the law and order.”
Further, emphasising that every Indian citizen has a duty to respect the Marathi language, the letter alleged that MNS workers have recently been involved in acts of assault, threats, and public humiliation of non-Marathi speaking individuals residing in the state.
It claimed that such incidents pose a serious threat to national integrity, coexistence, and have created a law and order situation not only in Maharashtra but across the entire country.
The lawyers urged the DGP to launch an investigation into the speeches and violent actions of MNS leaders and party activists who currently receive police protection.
According to PTI, the letter stated that legal action should be taken against those found guilty of creating an atmosphere of fear, which will harm future harmony, and those who make unconstitutional statements should be punished.
Moreover in a separate incident, MNS activists recently thrashed a sweet shop owner in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for not speaking Marathi.
Earlier this month, MNS workers damaged the glass door of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia`s office in Worli after he declared he would not speak Marathi and dared the party chief Raj Thackeray.
Meanwhile, on 5th July, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS head Raj Thackeray shared a stage in Mumbai for the cause of the Marathi language.
In the rally both the cousin vowed to oppose the `imposition` of Hindi in Maharashtra after the state government rolled back the Government Resolutions (GRs) on the introduction of Hindi as a third language in primary schools.
(With inputs from PTI)
