Conviction of Shiv Sena leader Sarpotdar too late, too little: Mahesh Bhatt

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,

New Delhi: The punishment to ex-Shiv Sena MP Madhukar Sarpotdar for his inflammatory speech during the 1992-93 Bombay communal riots is historic but too late and too little, said renowned filmmaker and social activist Mahesh Bhatt.


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Sixteen years after Sarpotdar delivered an inflammatory speech which led to increase in communal tension and violence, the conviction is though praiseworthy but very little as he has been granted just one year in imprisonment and Rs 5,000 as fine, Bhatt said.

Besides this, what is disappointing for the riot victims is that this little punishment is not going to be executed right now. The case will be challenged in high court and probably later in the Supreme Court. One can guess how many years the process will take.

Sarpotdar was convicted by a Special Court in Mumbai on 9th July for his inflammatory speeches that led to rioting on December 27, 1992. On that day he led a 5,000-strong mob through Nirmal Nagar and Kherwadi in Bandra to a Ganesh temple. He made provocative speeches in the temple and soon after, the mob turned violent and rioted.

The too much delayed justice denotes pressing need of judicial reform if democracy, justice and peace are anything to be secured, Bhatt added. He wondered what will happen to other cases mentioned in the Sri Krishna Commission Report.

Noted legalist Majeed Memon has also termed the conviction historic as a 16-year-old incident has been successfully proved. He said the section 153 A of the IPC has always been executed on papers as it has been used against political leaders. This is the first time that a big leader of Shiv Sena has come under this act, Memon said.

He hoped the verdict will keep leaders from resorting to communal and inflammatory speeches during coming elections.

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