Hate speech - Dateline Maharashtra

Mapping the February 2008 violence

January 30, 2008
Ø President of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Raj Thackeray makes provocative statements against North Indians in Mumbai, including the so-called ‘cultural invasion’ through the festival of Chhat Puja, and positions himself as a champion of the Marathi manoos (man).

February 1, 2008
Ø Raj Thackeray lashes out at actor Amitabh Bachchan for being more loyal to UP than the city that has given him superstardom.
Responding to Thackeray’s remarks, the actor’s wife and Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Jaya Bachchan said later, “Who is this Raj Thackeray? I only know Balasaheb, who is like a father figure to me, and Uddhav, who is like a son.”
Ø Two complaint cases are filed against Thackeray in a Patna court, both under Sections 153 and 153A of the Indian Penal Code, for ‘making provocative statements with intention to cause riot and promoting enmity between classes’.

February 2, 2008
Ø MNS workers disrupt a press meet held by SP national general secretary Amar Singh.

February 3, 2008
Ø The MNS leads a street assault on North Indians attending a United National Progressive Alliance rally organised by the SP at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
Ø Taxi-drivers, roadside vendors and passers-by are randomly stopped and assaulted. Theatres screening Bhojpuri films in Thane and Nashik are vandalised. Several people are injured and vehicles and property worth several lakh rupees is damaged. 
Ø Abu Asim Azmi, state president of the SP, swears revenge, saying that Mumbai was no fiefdom of the Thackerays. 
Ø Twenty-five MNS workers are arrested after they attack taxi-drivers and hawkers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Ø Two policemen are suspended for dereliction of duty, as they failed to act against a violent mob that assaulted taxi-drivers and damaged vehicles at Dadar. A departmental inquiry is instituted against assistant commissioner Balkrishna Bhange.
Ø Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar launches a scathing attack against Raj Thackeray, likening him to a saitan (evil spirit) for his remarks against North Indians and the Chhat festival.

February 4, 2008
Ø At one a.m. SP general secretary Amar Singh lodges an FIR with the Azad Maidan police against Raj Thackeray for issuing death threats to him in public.   Ø Two motorcycle borne youth throw glass bottles at actor Amitabh Bachchan’s residence in the wake of MNS attacks on the superstar. The police deny that any such incident took place. Media persons and eyewitnesses disagree.
Ø The MNS expresses regret for the damage caused by its cadres across the state. 
Ø At the same time, stray attacks by MNS workers continue as North Indians face attacks for a second day. Taxi-drivers continue to be targeted.
Ø Dozens of MNS workers are arrested.
Ø The Mumbai police for the first time invoke provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 to stop transmission of two news channels – Sahara Mumbai and India TV – “for repeatedly telecasting clippings of tension between workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Samajwadi Party (SP)”. The police direct cable operators to stop transmission of the two channels for 24 hours from the time they receive the copy of the order.
Ø Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh orders an inquiry into the February 3 violence and promises that Raj Thackeray will be arrested if evidence is found against him.  
Ø Taking suo motu cognisance of the assault on taxi-drivers and hawkers by workers of the MNS, the State Human Rights Commission issues notices to the government and the police. Justice Kshitij Vyas, chairperson of the commission, asks the government to explain the action it plans to take against the offenders, including political leaders, who break the law.
Ø The centre asks the state government to deal firmly with those indulging in violence and take effective steps to maintain law and order.  
Ø Dubbing MNS leader Raj Thackeray “anti-national”, union railway minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav demands action against him and his supporters for targeting North Indians in Mumbai and “trying to divide the country”.   
Ø Angry protestors in Bihar organise rallies against Thackeray, burn effigies and demand action against him.
Ø Film star Amitabh Bachchan’s houses in Mumbai are assigned police security as the unrest continues.
Ø Several prominent members of the film fraternity, including actor Nana Patekar, director Mahesh Bhatt, Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kissan and former BJP MP Vinod Khanna, condemn the attacks on North Indians and the targeting of Amitabh Bachchan by the MNS.
Ø Rumours of Raj Thackeray’s arrest begin.

February 5, 2008
Ø Sporadic incidents of violence involving MNS workers hit parts of Mumbai for the third day.
Ø The police arrest dozens of political activists, including some senior MNS leaders who are booked for criminal conspiracy and fomenting unrest.
Ø The Mumbai police do not arrest Raj Thackeray even 24 hours after the FIR was filed against him. Thackeray is in fact free to attend the wedding reception of the daughter of police commissioner Dhananjay Jhadav!
Ø The CPI(M), the Janata Dal and the BSP, through its chief Mayawati, demand stern action against Thackeray.
Ø Union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati take up the Maharashtra issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demand action against those involved. They also demand Thackeray’s arrest and the derecognition of his party.
Ø The BJP slams the state government for failing to curb the Mumbai violence. 
February 6, 2008
Ø Stray incidents of violence continue in Mumbai as auto rickshaws are burnt and a shop is vandalised.
Ø MNS workers attack the office of noted Bhojpuri artiste Manoj Tiwari. The office of Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam is also attacked.
Ø The violence perpetrated by the MNS in Mumbai triggers protests in Ranchi with Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) workers attempting to raid a Maharashtrian household here. The LJP processionists raise slogans condemning Raj Thackeray and the attacks on North Indians in Mumbai. They are intercepted by the police who say the agitators were detained before they could create trouble. 
Ø Angered by the state’s continuing inaction against Raj Thackeray, the Bombay Taximen’s Union threatens to go off the roads in a flash strike if the MNS chief is not arrested. A number of taxis have been damaged in the ongoing violence.
Ø More than 200 MNS members ditch Raj Thackeray’s party and return to the Shiv Sena. The members say they quit the MNS because of infighting within the party.
Ø Union agriculture minister and NCP leader Sharad Pawar comes down heavily on Raj Thackeray and the Samajwadi Party for their irresponsible comments.
Ø Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh visits Delhi. He is scheduled to meet senior Congress leaders on February 7 to, among other things, seek clearance for Raj Thackeray’s arrest.
Ø The state government says it has sought “legal opinion” from advocate-general Ravi Kadam on whether Raj Thackeray can be arrested. Meanwhile, Thackeray roams free.

February 7, 2008
Ø An attack on the Bombay Taximen’s Union office by MNS activists leads to some tension among taxi-drivers with the union calling a strike. The stir is called off soon after the home minister assures them of action against the guilty.
Ø Three key MNS leaders, general secretaries, Nitin Sardesai and Pravin Darekar, along with the students’ wing president Aditya Shirodkar, are picked up by the Dadar police from the party headquarters.
Ø The state government is gearing up for the arrest of Raj Thackeray on the charge of inciting violence and hatred and is busy collating enough evidence to build a strong case against him, the government says. 
Ø Sources in the police department say that a decision has been taken to register cases against Raj Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi for inciting street mobs.
Ø The central government expresses strong displeasure over the inadequate security arrangements in Mumbai and asks the state government to act and act fast. 
Ø Congress leader Dnyaneshwar Satawane is lynched by a mob of alleged Shiv Sena activists in the presence of local police officials at a late night public meeting addressed by state public works minister Anil Deshmukh near Nagpur.

February 10, 2008
Ø Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray warns the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport authorities that if workers from outside are employed, “they will be parcelled off and sent back”.

February 11, 2008
Ø There is tension in Pune and Shirdi as workers of the Shiv Sena and the MNS resort to violence. In Pune MNS workers damage at least six buses in stone throwing.
Ø MNS activists in Pune and Mumbai burn the latest issue of The Week newsmagazine for its cover story titled ‘Mumbai’s Hitler’ and a photomontage on the cover depicting Raj Thackeray as the German dictator. 
Ø Bihari barbers and carpenters flee Pune fearing attacks by the MNS. 
Ø The Mumbai police finally register cases against Raj Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi for ‘promoting enmity between groups’.
Ø The police bars Raj Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi from addressing rallies or press conferences for at least a week. 
Ø Leader of the opposition LK Advani comes down strongly against the violence against North Indians in Mumbai, declaring that it goes against national unity and the Constitution. 
Ø Former attorney-general of India, Soli Sorabjee demands the restoration of the rule of law in Mumbai.
February 12, 2008 
Ø As the state government dithers on the issue of Raj Thackeray’s arrest, MNS workers go on the rampage in many towns and cities of the state, including Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Latur and Beed, damaging public vehicles and forcing a bandh at several places. 
Ø Rumours of Raj Thackeray’s arrest spark violence in Mumbai.
Ø The union government rushes additional paramilitary forces to Maharashtra as the MNS’ violent campaign against North Indians spreads to new areas.

February 13, 2008 
Ø Even as news of the MNS chief’s imminent arrest spreads, security is beefed up at the Vikhroli court in suburban Mumbai where he is expected to be produced.
Ø Raj Thackeray stays home as the state simmers.
Ø Raj Thackeray’s MNS men target North Indian vendors in Pune and Nashik and force shops to close.
Ø The police arrest Raj Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi. Both are released on bail within a few hours.
Ø One person is killed and several people are injured when a bus on the Mumbai-Nashik highway is burnt by MNS activists following Raj Thackeray’s arrest.
Ø Industry in Nashik grinds to a halt, as nearly 10,000 North Indians have fled the city since February 11. Industries record losses amounting to several hundred crore rupees due to the prevailing crisis.

February 14, 2008
Ø The Bombay High Court accepts a writ petition filed by two prominent businessmen against Raj Thackeray for making defamatory speeches and promoting enmity between different groups. Holding Thackeray and the MNS responsible for the death, injuries and losses worth crores of rupees suffered during the recent violence in Maharashtra, the petitioners believe Thackeray should be made to pay.