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 Thackeray's parochial brand of politics
What this obsessive parochialism, which has been accepted as a
creed by Balasaheb's son Uddhav and nephew Raj, means is that
Thackeray has never acquired the kind of political respectability
which other provincial leaders like the DMK's M.
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Mumbai:
Maharashtra Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal Monday
ordered a probe into the arrest of a 21-year-old girl and her
friend for posting comments on a social networking website on the
shutdown in Mumbai after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's death.
"An inquiry has been ordered in the case and a report will be
submitted by the inspector general of the Konkan range Saturday,"
Dayal told IANS.
Thane rural police Sunday arrested Shaheen Dadha for questioning
the shutdown in the city after Thackeray's death Saturday, and the
subsequent shutdown Sunday for his funeral and cremation.
Another girl in Dadha's friends' list, who 'liked' the comment,
was also arrested.
Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju Monday criticised
the arrests in strong words and requested Maharashtra Chief
Minister Prithviraj Chavan to suspend the official who arrested
the girls.
"I received an email stating that the woman has been arrested for
protesting on Facebook against the shutdown in Mumbai on the
occasion of the death of Mr. Bal Thackeray. It is alleged that she
has been arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments,"
Katju wrote.
Katju said that it was absurd to say that protesting against a
bandh hurt religious sentiments.
Katju said if no action was taken he would "deem it that you as
chief minister are unable to run the state in a democratic manner
as envisaged by the constitution to which you have taken oath, and
then the legal consequences will follow".
He wrote a second email to Chavan later and sought an explanation
as to why there was no response to his previous message.
"You have not replied to my email but only forwarded it to someone
called Amitabh Rajan, whom I do not know, and who has not had the
courtesy to respond to me," Katju wrote.
"Please realise that the matter is much too serious to be taken in
this cavalier manner, because the principle of liberty is at
stake. The entire nation wants to know what action you have taken.
I would therefore request you to immediately let me know what you
are doing in this matter," he added.
Katju told Chavan that silence was not an option for him in the
matter and that the entire nation was furious at this apparently
illegal arrest.
Terming the girls' arrest as "blatant misuse of state machinery",
Katju asked what action was taken against the "delinquent
policemen".
An official from Palghar police station in Thane rural confirmed
the arrests and said the girls were released on bail Monday after
they were presented in a local court.
Reports here said that both the girls were booked and arrested
under Section 295(a) of the Indian Penal Code (for hurting
religious sentiments) and Section 64(a) of the Information
Technology Act, 2000.
The hospital of Dadha's uncle was also allegedly vandalised by
Shiv Sainiks.
Katju earlier wrote to the chief minister: "I request you to
immediately order the suspension, arrest, chargesheeting and
criminal prosecution of the police personnel (however high they
may be) who ordered as well as implemented the arrest of that
woman."
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