Assault on Azmi, suspension of MNS legislators trigger protest

[SSGPA1]

MUMBAI/NASHIK/PUNE: The assault on Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi by MNS legislators inside Maharashtra assembly and the subsequent suspension
today triggered violent protests in several parts of the state.

Police said supporters of Azmi pelted stones and damaged four buses and a few autorickshaws at Shivajinagar in Mumbai to protest manhandling of their leader. They also shouted slogans in support of Azmi who has been elected from two seats, Mankhurd-Shivajinagar and Bhiwandi, Thane district.

The police used canes to disperse the Samajwadi Party workers. "We lathi-charged Azmi's supporters to control the situation. Ten people were detained," Deputy Police Commissioner Dilip Sawant said.

Fearing trouble, shop owners downed their shutters. Suburban train services on Harbour line of Central railway were disrupted for some time after protesters gathered on tracks at Govandi station, police said.

As the channels flashed images of the ugly ruckus in the House, SP activists took to the streets and pelted stones, damaging three MSRTC buses at Bhiwandi, police said, adding no one was injured in the incident.

A similar incident took place at Mumbra, a minority- dominated area on Mumbai's outskirts, police said.

MNS activists burnt an effigy of Azmi, whose oath- taking in Hindi infuriated the MLAs of the Raj Thackeray-led party, at Kalwa in Thane city.

Stray incidents of stone pelting by MNS activists at buses were reported from Varje area in Pune, police said.

Varje comes under Khadakwasla Assembly constituency, represented by Ramesh Wanjle, one of the four MLAs of the Raj Thackeray-led party suspended for ruckus in the House.

In Nashik, MNS activists burnt an effigy of Azmi to protest the suspension of party legislators, including Vasant Gite, who represents Nashik-Central.

Following the incident, police have stepped up security at important locations in the North Maharashtra city, one of the strongholds of MNS.

In Malegaon, the minority-dominated town in Nashik district,, SP activists, headed by its city President Rizwan Batterywala, made an unsuccessful attempt to burn an effigy of Raj Thackeray.

A state road transport corporation bus was stoned in in Malegaon allegedly by SP activists.

Meanwhile, Azmi has appealed to his party workers to maintain peace and calm.

Assault on Azmi, suspension of MNS legislators trigger protests - India - The Times of India

---------- Post added at 01:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

Can you imagine a MNA getting roughed up for taking oath in the national language?

Only in India!

 

[Balance]

Man, you picked the news too late!

Actually, the drama started before 20 days from now. MNS had warned all MLAs to take oath in Marathi. Now that, I guess was a pretty fair demand. But Azmi refused with arrogance.

Then MNS warned him again and now this happens today.

Personally, I feel both sides are wrong.

For Azmi, it wouldn't have hurt anybody if the oath was taken in Marathi. All he had to do was read out two paragraphs. Or, as he claimed, if he lacks command over Marathi and was uncomfortable with it, then he should have made his point calmly and politely.

On the other hand, MNS manhandled Azmi. That was in bad taste, too. It's ok as an opening, but it can backfire if practiced for long.

And yes, if you are talking about dignity and respect, I'll say these things have ceased to exist from ages at least in subcontinent politics.

 

[booo]

Now that, I guess was a pretty fair demand.

Fair demand??? my ***!
who is MNS to demand? its a person's choice. each and everyone has their right to take oath in whatever language they are comfortable with.

FYI, after the incident others took oath in english and sanskrit.

 

[PlanetWarrior]

Is Hindi no longer a national language of India ??

 

[Chanakyaa]

Is Hindi no longer a national language of India ??

Its the Regional Politics of MNS.
If Raj's Son was given the same treatment to take oath in UP ( in Marathi ) would he support it ?
By Constitution one can take Oath in Any of the Listed Regional Languages including Hindi and Marathi.

Do good to people by doing something real, "shouting dogs seldom bite" .
Btw, Azami too is not a man differnet from Raj One is Playing Hindi Card while other is using Marathi

 

[Peshwa]

MNS is taking this way too far....
It is moving from being a Political party to just a band of thugs......
And this move will hurt the Marathi's more than anything else.....

We should have a law banning parties that are involved in violence in the assembly or other political gatherings......
What was imposed on Tytler and Shukla should be impose on Thackrey as well....
Even Bal Thackrey has condemned the violence.....