Court talks tough, Raj backs off

Mumbai, Aug. 28: Mr Raj Thackeray on Thursday backed off from his threat to shop owners over the Marathi signboards issue after the Bombay high court stepped in on Thursday to restrain the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and his supporters from indulging in violence observing that nobody can "hold the people to ransom".

The court observation appeared to have a salutary effect on Mr Thackeray, who said he would be happy if the BMC and the government implemented an old rule stipulating mandatory signboards in Marathi.

"We don’t have any desire to take to the street just like that. I will be happy if the government strictly implements the provision for mandatory Marathi signboards," Mr Thackeray told reporters shortly after the high court gave relief to thousands of shopkeepers from threats by the MNS.

"I have appealed for peace," Mr Thackeray said, replying to a query over his earlier "warning" to shopowners over the signboards issue.

The court, in response to an application filed by a few traders’ associations, restrained Mr Thackeray and MNS members from "in any manner whatsoever disturbing" the traders in the city from carrying on their business activity, defacing or damaging their business property and assaulting or threatening them.

Justices J.N. Patel and K.K. Tated also restrained Mr Thackeray personally from giving any provocative or intimidating public speech regarding the issue of Marathi signboards.

The federation of retail traders welfare associations, along with others, had approached the high court after the MNS chief warned shopowners to put Marathi signboards by August 28, failing which they would be taught a lesson.

The court also ordered police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane to take "effective steps" to safeguard the petitioners and to protect them from any act of violence by MNS workers.

Earlier, the court grilled the government lawyer as to what preventive measures it took after Mr Thackeray sent a letter to traders, threatening to teach them lesson if they failed to put up Marathi signboards.

"There is a hidden threat in this letter," Justice Patel said, asking what action was taken against Mr Thackeray and whether "this gentleman has been interrogated."

"Nobody can hold the people to ransom," Mr Patel said. —PTI