A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its president Raj Thackeray for allegedly delivering hate speech against outsiders in Mumbai for refusing to speak Marathai.
The plea has been filed by Sunil Shukla, National President of the Uttar Bharatiya Vikas Sena, who is the leader of a political party focused on the welfare of marginalized North Indian residents in Maharashtra and advocates for the rights of North Indians.
The plea states that there have been repeated instances of hate speech, targeted violence and serious threat to life and liberty of North Indian community in Maharashtra.
The situation is such that public calls to violence and actual physical assaults on Hindi speaking persons at multiple locations in Mumbai, including Powai and D-Mart in Versova.
In particular, the plea has highlighted an inflammatory speech delivered by Thackeray during a Gudi Padwa rally on March 30, which was broadcast on ABP Maza. The speech allegedly encouraged attacks on non-Marathi speakers working in public-facing roles such as malls and banks.
The Indian Express reported that Thackeray in his speech said the following,
“In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi… they will get a slap on the face. Don’t tell me about the country and all. Every state has its language and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected”.
Shukla has alleged that following the speech, incidents of physical violence were reported in areas like Powai and Versova. He has also claimed to have personally received over 100 anonymous death threats and a Twitter post calling for his murder.
Around 30 persons affiliated with MNS also barged into the office of the petitioner's political party and attempted to ransack the same, it has been alleged.
Despite multiple written complaints to Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, senior police officials, and the Election Commission of India, Shukla alleges that no FIRs have been filed and no protection has been granted to him or his party members.
The petition prays for the following:
Direct immediate police protection for Shukla and his family.
Ensure registration of FIRs and criminal investigation into the matter.
Direct the Election Commission of India to consider derecognizing the MNS.
Appoint an independent agency or an SIT for an impartial probe
Restrain Thackeray from making further provocative and insightful public statements.
The petition was filed through advocate Sriram Parakkat.