By IANS
Mumbai : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Monday warned of stern action against those targeting people from other states settled here though he did not name Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray.
“Nobody is above law. The state government will not spare anybody who takes law in their hands,” Deshmukh said in Latur, his hometown.
He asserted “the state government will ensure full protection” for people from other states settled in Mumbai who have immensely contributed to the development of the megapolis and the state.
“These Indian citizens from other states have every right to stay in Mumbai and Maharashtra and their protection is our prime duty,” Deshmukh said.
Thackeray repeatedly ridiculed north Indians earlier this month. The MNS campaign led to several violent incidents and damage to residential and business premises in different parts of the state as well as in Mumbai.
Following a non-bailable case filed against Thackeray, the police beefed up security outside his residence Monday afternoon. Speculation was rife since Monday morning that he might be arrested anytime.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K.L. Prasad told IANS that the case against Thackeray, the estranged nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, was under non-bailable sections, which could result in his arrest.
“Every person is below the law and has to abide by it. The case registered against Thackeray is for promoting enmity amongst two ethnic groups and he can be arrested if substantive evidence is collected against him,” Prasad added.
The Vikhroli police registered a case against Thackeray in the morning, while the Shivaji Park police lodged a case invoking non-bailable provisions against Samajwadi Party state president Abu Asim Azmi.
The Vikhroli police station took note of Thackeray’s public meeting held in this central eastern suburb Feb 2, in which he criticised against non-Marathi speaking people of Mumbai with specific reference to north-Indians.
While Mumbai remained calm Monday, stray incidents of violence continued in parts of the state as MNS activists vented their ire against people from north Indian.
In Pune, MNS activists threw stones at a public transport bus Monday afternoon, police said.
In Shirdi, near Nashik, shops owned by north Indians were ransacked and forcibly shut down by MNS activists, Monday morning.