Mumbai: Demanding immediate arrest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for his alleged provocative speeches, Samajwadi Party on November 3 blamed the Democratic Front (DF) government for adopting double standards by failing to meet its promise of implementing findings of Srikrishna Commission of Inquiry into the communal riots of 1992-93.

Merely registering cases against Thackeray under Section 153 A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) would not suffice and the state government should immediately arrest him for allegedly delivering provocative speeches, Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra unit president Abu Asim Azmi said.

In the past, cases were registered against Thackeray but they were withdrawn by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Sena government. Referring to a recent case filed against the Sena chief for openly demanding formation of suicide squads by Hindus to counter terrorist designs, Azmi said this one would also be withdrawn like the others.

What is the use of filing cases when no action was taken against Thackeray? Azmi asked, accusing the Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal of adopting double standards in this regard.

Referring to Bhujbal's comment of not taking action against Thackeray because it could lead to law and order problem, the SP chief said, "If the government is scared of Thackeray, it should resign on moral grounds."

PTI