Lok Sabha Speaker accepted resignation of JD(U) MPs

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee accepted the resignation of 5 JD(U) MPs – Prabhunath Singh, George Fernandes, Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lallan, Kailash Baitha and Meena Singh. The JD(U) MPs had resigned on November 7 to protest against Raj Thackeray’s anti-North Indian tirade and Rahul Raj shootout in Mumbai.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan have called the resignation of JD(U) Lok Sabha MPs as a political stunt and accused the party of breaking the political unity in Bihar. Lalu dared Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to ask his MLAs, MLCs and Rajya Sabha MPs to resign if he is so concerned about Bihar’s interests. Interestingly, the resignation of JD(U) MPs hold little significance, as the next general elections are due in February 2009.

 

Maharastrian Killed another UP walla

The killing of UP migrant Dharamdev Rai by a group of Marathi youth in a local train in Mumbai, has taken a political turn, with UP Chief Minister Mayawati seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention on this matter. Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh for the family of Dharamdev Rai, who hailed from Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, UPA allies Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan have demanded stern against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Maharashtra government. Without naming any state, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav threatened to suspend train movement in states where rail passengers and properties are repeatedly attacked. The Railway Minister announced a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh for Dharamdev Rai’s family.

Both Lalu and Paswan slammed the Maharashtra government over the growing attacks against North Indians. Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, whose party is supporting the UPA government at the Centre, has decided to take on the Maharashtra government and chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

 

Raj Thackeray has been sent to judicial custody

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Terrorist group MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has been sent to judicial custody till November 4. Raj Thackeray’s bail plea was rejected by the Bandra Court. Although Raj got the bail in the Chetna College violence in Kherwadi after producing a bail bond of Rs. 15,000, he was denied the same in the Kalyan violence case. Raj was taken into custody by the Kalyan police. Since the Mumbai Police did not demand Raj’s custody, he was sent to judicial custody by the court. Raj Thackeray was charged with provoking violence under Section 153. He was also charged for “creating mischief”, “intent to cause riots” and “causing damage to property”. The court’s decision came as a major setback for Raj Thackeray and his supporters who expected Raj to be released on bail. Security has been beefed up in and around Mumbai, as the police anticipate more trouble after the rejection of Raj Thackeray’s bail plea.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray [Images], who was arrested early Tuesday morning, has been sent to two-week judicial custody by a court in suburban Bandra in Mumbai where he was produced around 2.50 pm. Two truckloads of Rapid Action Force personnel were stationed outside the court for security. Even before Raj Thackeray was produced in the Bandra court in Mumbai, over 2,000 slogan-raising supporters had gathered there, and the police resorted to a lathi-charge to bring the situation under control around Tuesday noon. MNS supporters resorted to stone-pelting at police vehicles outside the Bandra court. The supporters also stoned a police van carrying detained MNS activists. Reports from across Mumbai spoke of voluntary bandh at many places, and many schools shut down for the day anticipating trouble. Local trains reported a slight delay, while there was no disruption in road traffic on the main arteries. Violence erupted in several parts of Mumbai and Maharashtra following the arrest of MNS chief Raj Thackeray in the early hours of Tuesday from the Circuit House in Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra. Angry activists of the MNS came out on the streets after the arrest of Raj Thackeray and attacked several taxis and autorickshaws at Mumbai Central, Parel, Borivali and other parts of the city. Incidents of arson were also reported from the Mulund check naka in the eastern suburbs. A mob of party workers have also blocked the Mumbai-Goa highway. The police said security has been beefed up across Mumbai to meet any eventuality in the wake of the arrest of Raj Thackeray. The State Reserve Police has also been deployed near Raj Thackeray’s residence in Dadar. Raj Thackeray was arrested under several Indian Penal Code sections, including assault, obstructing government officials from discharging their duty and giving provocating speeches. Raj Thackeray was arrested for Sunday’s brutal attack on north Indian railway exam candidates by MNS workers. A case was registered in this connection against Raj Thackeray and his supporters at the north-west Mumbai police station of Kherwadi, after MNS workers attacked 13 railway board examination centres in suburban Mumbai to protest against “inadequate representation” to locals. The arrest of the MNS chief comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure on the Maharashtra government to rein in Raj Thackeray and his activists. Earlier, a combative Raj Thackeray had justified Sunday’s attack on north Indians and warned the state that it will have to “regret” the consequences in the event of his arrest. “Arrest me and be ready to bear the consequences…. You will have to regret,” Raj Thackeray, who was attending a ceremony at Bahadursheikh Naka in Chiplun in the state on Monday, said. “If Raj is arrested, entire Maharashtra will be set on fire,” he threatened. Meanwhile, incidents of violence were reported across Mumbai allegedly by the MNS activists. Taxis parked at Tardeo in south Mumbai were damaged by some unknown miscreants who fled on motorcycles, the police said. Two separate incidents were reported in the north-west suburb of Borivali where miscreants attempted to burn trucks, they added. There were also reports of some unidentified men throwing stones at the suburban resident of Congress spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam. Meanwhile, schools in suburban Mumbai have been closed as a preventive measure following the arrest of MNS chief. Bsides, security has been beefed up in Mumbai to thwart any untoward incident, the police said. Reacting sharply to his leader’s arrest, MNS spokesperson Shirish Parkar said, “There was no substance in the allegations against Raj Thackeray. The state government was acting at the behest of the Centre.” Parkar described the arrest of Raj Thackeray as “vengeance” and political “conspiracy” by the Maharashtra government.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today demanded “stringent action” against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray , saying that arrest is not enough to deter him from spreading his campaign against north Indians. “Raj Thackeray is repeatedly organising attacks on North Indians. So by just arresting him is not enough and more stringent action should be taken against him,” Prasad told reporters one the sidelines of a railway seminar. Terming Thackeray as the leader of antisocial elements, Prasad said he is spreading “hatred and divisive campaign” against north Indians which is not good for a secular democracy. “Even Dalits were not spared and attacked by his men,” he added. Clubbing MNS with the Bajrang Dal, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief reiterated his demand for banning both the organisations. “Like the Bajrang Dal, Thackeray’s party is also spearheading a hatred campaign and both should be banned,” he said. Prasad announced that those students who could not appear in the railway examination due to the disruption created by the MNS, would be allowed to appear again. A date for re-examination would be announced soon, said Prasad. Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh felt that Thackeray could be out on bail soon and non-Maharashtrians could be targeted again. Congress MP Priya Dutt said by arresting only Thackeray, attacks on north Indians could not be stopped. Paswan, Union minister for steel, chemicals and fertilisers, said, “Thackeray will be out on bail soon and again indulge in violent activities. The Centre should take steps like use of Article 355 or something similar to control the situation in Maharashtra.. The prevailing situation in the state was “dangerous” and the administration has “failed” to do anything, he said. SP general secretary Amar Singh described Thackeray’s arrest as a “reactionary” step by the Maharashtra government. “Raj Thackeray’s arrest by Mumbai police was a reactionary step and by afternoon he would be released, and no action will be taken against him,” he said. Accusing state Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil of playing the “divide and rule” game, Singh said they will never benefit from it. “The state government is playing the divide and rule game even as Raj Thackeray and his goons have been on a rampage. He will be released from custody by afternoon and his men will again start attacking north Indians,” Singh said. He said Maharashtra is an integral part of the country and Maharashtrians are loved by everybody but now everybody hates Maharashtrians, just like people from other parts of the country. “Even President Pratibha Patil is from Maharashtra, and still this (attack on north Indians) is happening in the state,” he said. Congress MP Dutt, while reacting to the news of the MNS chief’s arrest, felt that despite this step, attacks on non-Maharastrians will not stop. “This is ongoing…such attacks will not stop. Today, north Indians are being targeted, tomorrow people from other regions could be attacked. Such types of incidents should not be allowed to take place, and leaders cutting across party lines have condemned such incidents.”