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ShareMumbai: For the Shiv Sena, the battle with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is just beginning. In a move that is seen as an attempt to debunk the MNS's Marathi manoos platform, the Sena-BJP-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued an order that all shop signboards will use Marathi in big script.
The order, issued by the office of the chief inspector of shops and establishments, also instructs that the nameplate in Devnagari script must precede the lettering in any other language or script. It says that penal action will be initiated against those who fail to comply with the order in 60 days.
The penal action, observed the communique, will involve a maximum fine of Rs5,000 and will continue till such time that the name board is not displayed in Marathi.
This means almost all signboards will have to be redone across the city. While most shops and establishments do use the Marathi Devnagari script, this appears in smaller print compared to the main English signboards. Now, this will have to be reversed.
Nameplate politics was resumed sometime last year when the MNS was trying to differentiate itself from the Shiv Sena. The Sena is now trying to turn the tables. Ravindra Waikar, senior Sena corporator, said: "The Marathi signboard issue was first raised by the Shiv Sena. We did not seek publicity out of the issue like some other parties." Shirish Parkar, MNS general secretary, said: "This has come about mostly due to our agitations. We welcome the contribution by other political parties."
The BMC has cited a government notification dated September 18, 2000, to support its order. The notification could not, however, be implemented as the Bombay high court had stayed its implementation following a petition by the Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA).
The BMC claims that the interim orders issued by the court were vacated on February 16 this year. Viren Shah, president of FRTWA, contests this and says that there was either an error in typing or understanding of the February court order. "Our petition has not been disposed of, only a notice of motion has," he said.
