By IANS,
New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday issued notices to Maharashtra’s director general of police and chief secretary over attacks on north Indians by the supporters of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray.
“The commission has taken suo-motu cognisance of distressing media reports on incidents of attack on north Indian aspirants for railway jobs by the MNS and has issued notices to the chief secretary, government of Maharashtra and the DGP (director general of police) for their comments on the issue,” an NHRC official told IANS.
The commission has given them two weeks’ time to respond.
Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, was arrested Tuesday morning after being charged with provoking hatred among communities as well as rioting, assault and damage to property after his supporters Sunday added another chapter to their campaign against non-Maharashtrians.
“The MNS reportedly did not shy away from promoting a violent form of ethnic politics to build its base and disrupted the Railway Recruitment Board Exams in Mumbai on Oct 19 demanding that only Maharashtrians be recruited to fill vacancies in central and western railways.
“It is also stated in the press reports that the state government’s response to the violent activities of the MNS, have not generated confidence, on the contrary the state’s inaction seems to have boosted MNS’ proclivities,” the official said.
The commission said it has also made a note of MNS’s row with the Bachchan family. Raj Thackeray had earlier spoken against Jaya Bachchan for preferring to speak in Hindi at a music launch function in Mumbai and his party workers tried to obstruct the release of a Amitabh Bachchan movie forcing the organisers to abandon the premiere.
“The commission in its notice has said that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the citizens of the country,” the official said.