Petition against Uddhav dismissed

The petitioner had sought action against Sena chief for calling India a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ in Dassera speech

In a relief to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, the Bombay High Court recently dimissed a petition filed against him, for calling India as a ‘Hindu Rashtra’ during his Dassera Rally, last year.

A division bench headed by Justice Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari dismissed the petition, last week.

The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by one retired ACP Sarjerao Shinde, who sought action against Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for calling and demanding a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.

In his petition, Shinde referred to the speech of October last year, delivered by Thackeray on the eve of Dassera amidst thousands of his party workers and supporters.

It must be noted that every year, the Sena president addresses a public rally from the Dadar-based Shivaji Park hitting out at his political rivals and propogating his party’s agenda.

The petition highlights that during his address (in Dassera rally), Thackeray demanded for a ‘Hindu Rashtra’. Shinde had sought the demand to be declared as ‘unconstitutional’.

Shinde also sought resignation of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh for his statement in Parliament during a debate organised to mark the celebration of 125th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

“The Union Home Minister, falsely stated that ‘Secularism’ does not mean ‘Dharm Nirpeksh’. It is an assault not only on the ‘Preamble’ of the Indian Constitution but also on the ‘People’ of India,” the petition reads.

Terming Singh’s statement as ‘intolerant’, the petitioner sought his resignation in interest and security of the nation. When the matter came up for the hearing on last Thursday, the bench asked the petitioner about his contentions and prayers.

Appearing in person, Shinde made his submissions, however, after hearing his arguments the bench did not hear any counter arguments from Manish Upadhye, the counsel appearing for both the Maharashtra government as well as the Union government, and accordingly dismissed the petition.

Dismissing the petition, the bench said, “We do not think that the prayers as sought in the petition can be granted. The writ petition is therefore dismissed.”