Raj Thackeray backs off over signboards

MUMBAI: Raj Thackeray on Thursday backed off from his threat to shopowners over the Marathi signboards issue after the Bombay High Court stepped in to restrain the 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 salutory effect on Raj, 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", Raj told reporters shortly after the High Court gave relief to thousands of shopkeepers from threats by the MNS.
    
"I have appealed for peace", Raj 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 Raj 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 Raj personally from giving any provocative or intimidating public speech regarding the issue of Marathi signboards.
    
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 Raj 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 Raj, and whether "this gentleman has been interrogated."
    
"Nobody can hold the people to ransom," Patel said.
    
Government lawyer told the court that 811 MNS activists were arrested from August 26, and government was committed to maintain law and order.
     
But the court was not satisfied with government's preventive measures, nor was it happy with principal home secretary Ajit Parasnis' affidavit which said that, state shall take stern action against those indulging in violence.
      
Earlier, Federation's lawyer Majid Memon said that traders were not opposed to putting up Marathi boards, but they were opposed to the 'diktat' that Marathi name on the board should come first, and should be in bold font.      

Taking strong exception to Raj's letter to traders on July 14, Memon said, "How can a non-statutory party can do this?... There is panic among the traders.."
      
While restraining MNS from resorting to violence to press their demand, the court asked the state to reply to the present application by the Federation within four weeks.     

Raj Thackeray said  "The fact that one has to resort to breaking law and order over implementing a Government order is indicative of the failure of the Government in ensuring that its directives are carried out."
    
The MNS chief came down heavily on his pet hate objects, the 'non-Marathis', saying "nobody should meddle in the affairs of Marathi people who have given 105 martyrs for Mumbai".