Complaint against Raj Thackeray for 'anti-national' speech
The complaint seeks to prosecute the MNS chief for attempting to wage war against the state and promoting enmity between classes.
Five Delhi-based lawyers have filed a criminal complaint in a court against MNS chief Raj Thackeray for his alleged remark that he would not be responsible if a demand for a separate Maharashtra nation were to arise.
Metropolitan magistrate Jitender Mishra will record thestatements on February 16 of advocate Ashish Rai and his fourcolleagues before taking cognizance of the complaint againstThackeray.
The complaint seeks to prosecute the MaharashtraNavnirman Sena (MNS) leader under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code dealing with attempting to wage war against the state, promoting enemity between classes, and making statements against national integration and public peace.
Citing newspaper clippings, the complaint alleged that the MNSleader made a public speech at Dombivli in Thane district and said, "Agar Maharashtra ko alag rashtra banane ki maang uthne lage to mai zimmedar nahi hunga [If a demand for a separate Maharashtra were to arise, I would not be responsible]."
Besides Rai, advocates Durgesh Rai, SK Singh, AmrendraSingh, and Tej Narain are the co-complainants. All of them hail from North India.
"The said utterances have invoked a sense of hatred amongmembers of society," the complaint said.
"Lawyers had played an instrumental role in the freedom struggle and we cannot remain mute spectators to such a vicious attempt to disintegrate our country," Rai said.