New Delhi: Maharashtra government on Monday
told the Supreme Court that it has taken effective steps for
protection of lives and religious faith of north Indians and
non-Marathis in the wake of an alleged hate campaign launched
by Raj Thackeray-led MNS.
The state government said several agitators were
arrested and cases were registered against Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray for disrupting the Railway
Recruitment Board Examination on October 19, 2008, and making
allegedly derogatory statements.
The apex court was also told that the Chhat Puja,
practiced by the people of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh,
was held peacefully this year and the previous year in which
three to four lakh devotees assembled at various places in
Mumbai and no untoward incident had occurred.
"This was mainly due to strong punitive as well as
preventive action taken by the Mumbai Police. The diligence of
Mumbai Police played a crucial and diligent role in
maintaining law and order on sensitive occasions," Maharashtra
government said in an affidavit placed before a Bench
comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and B S Chauhan.
The court was hearing a PIL filed in November 2008 by
Delhi-based trader Salek Chand alleging attacks on north
Indians by MNS have led to a chain reaction elsewhere in the
country and threatened to destroy the nation`s unity and
integrity.
Advocate Sugriv Dubey alleged the affidavit was an
"eyewash" as attacks on north Indians are taking place and the
state government has failed to take effective action MNS
chief.
However, the Bench said the affidavit clearly mentions
the steps taken against the culprits and measures taken for
the Chhat Puja.
"Chhat Puja has gone smoothly," the Bench said.
The advocate said actions have been taken against
innocent persons but the state government has not taken
adequate steps relating to the murder of two doctor brothers
from Uttar Pradesh.
The petitioner had alleged the state police remained
a mute spectator when two north Indian doctor brothers --
Omprakash and Mayur Dubey -- were killed by a mob on
provocation by Raj Thackeray last year.
However, the state government in the affidavit said
the duo were murdered and their uncle was seriously injured in
an attack which was the outcome of a political rivalry and
competition and the incident had nothing to do with MNS
agitations against north Indians.
PTI
