Lucknow: A public suit was filed before the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday seeking de-recognition of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and arrest of its leader Raj Thackeray under the National Security Act. Moved by local lawyer Ashok Pandey, who is known for often raising frivolous issues before the High Court, the petition is to be heard on Thursday.

The petition before the Lucknow bench also sought the Central government's intervention to ensure the safety and security of north Indians living in Mumbai and other parts of Maharastra.

Even though MNS is not a national political party against which a petition can normally not be entertained in any court outside Maharastra, lawyer Pandey sought the intervention of the state court under certain constitutional provisions empowering high courts with an extraordinary jurisdiction. A two-judge bench comprising Senior Judge Pradeep Kant and Justice S N Shukla agreed to hear the petition on Thursday.

200 members quit MNS, join Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Around 200 members of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday joined Shiv Sena in presence of Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray.

The MNS members, who are fed up with the anti-north Indian stance adopted by Raj, joined the Sena at a function held at Bal Thackeray's residence Matoshree in suburban Bandra, Sena secretary Vinayak Raut said.

Asked about the Sena's stand on the current political scenario in the backdrop of violence over Raj Thackeray's remarks against north Indians, Raut said, "This is a fight between Samajwadi Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, not between Maharashtrians and north Indians." These MNS workers got fed up with the ongoing battle and left the party, he said.

JDP supports Raj Thackeray

Jamshedpur: At a time when all political parties are criticising MNS chief Raj Thackeray for his remarks on Chhat festival and on North Indians, Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) here today took out a procession in his support.

JDP activists, led by its chairman Salkhan Murmu, took out a procession in support of Thackeray and later put up road blockade on Tata-Chaibasa road. Talking to newspersons, Murmu said that his supports Raj Thackeray's sentiment but does not approve of violence.

In a democratic country like India, people were free to go to any state in search of livelihood but local residents should be accorded priority in all fields including education and employment, the tribal leader said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief will be identified as the protector of the Marathi people, Murmu said. Overlooking the local and outsiders issue would only invite trouble in Jharkhand, he said, adding that the JDP wants to make the state an adivasi one.

Source : PTI