HVK Archives: Centre asks state govt to take action against Thackeray
Centre asks state govt to take action against Thackeray - The Times of India
Times of India News Service
()
6 January 1997
Title : Centre asks state govt. to take action against Bal Thackeray
Author : Times of India News Service
Publication : The Times of India
Date : January 6, 1997
The Union home ministry has asked the Maharashtra home department to
take "appropriate action" against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for
publishing a controversial article In the party's Hindi mouthpiece
Ravivar Saamna.
Mr Ibrahim Tai, secretary of the Raza Academy, an Islamic organisation,
had drawn the attention of Inderjit Gupta, Union home minister, to an
unsigned article carried In the newspaper on October 6 in which an
allegedly derogatory reference has been made to prophet Mohammed. The
article was written In the context of the controversy over M.F. Husain's
sketch of goddess Saraswati.
Mr Tai has sought to file a criminal complaint against Mr Thackeray
under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. However, the
sanction of the state government is needed for going ahead with the
prosecution. One of the offences Is Instigation of enmity between two
communities.
Since the state government did not response to the Academy's request, Mr
Tai sought the intervention of Mr Gupta. The Union minister has pointed
that as per Provisions of the Constitution it is for the state
government to accord sanction for prosecution. Nevertheless, Mr Gupta
has asked the state home department to proceed against Mr Thackeray.
Recently, a delegation of ulemas called on Mr Gupta and complained to
him about the objectionable article. Following this, Mr Gupta wrote a
letter to chief minister Manohar Joshi, on December 19 drawing his
attention to the offending article.
Mr Gupta noted that "such scurrilous utterances, specially by
responsible leaders, are likely to create apprehensions In the minority
community" leading to communal tension. Mr Gupta also asked Mr Joshi to
take necessary action against Mr Thackeray.
But the Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party regime is yet to respond to Mr
Gupta's letter. Mr Tai said the Academy will not rest till action is
taken against Mr Thackeray and the newspaper's editor and Sena MP,
Sanjay Nirupam. Alternatively, both of them should offer an
unconditional apology, he added.
Comment :
1. The statement attributed to Balasaheb was a rhetoric one.
2. The 'secular' govt. has taken cognisance of a fundamentalist Muslim
organisation. But when Husain depicted Saraswati in nude they were
quiet.
3. The intellectuals are not rising to the defence of Balasaheb for his
freedom of speech.
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