MNS-Shiv Sena (UBT) Organisers Booked Over Unauthorised Mumbai Rally
Mumbai Police filed an FIR against MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) organisers for holding an unauthorised protest march in South Mumbai.
The Mumbai Police have initiated legal action against the organisers of a joint protest march led by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT). An FIR was registered at the Azad Maidan Police Station following a massive demonstration held in South Mumbai on Sunday.
The legal proceedings stem from allegations that the protest march was conducted without obtaining the mandatory police clearance. Furthermore, authorities claim the rally violated prohibitory orders that were strictly in force across the South Mumbai region at the time of the event.
The Target: Chief Election Commissioner
The protest, which saw high-profile leadership from both parties, was directed against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar. The march, led by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, moved towards the BMC headquarters to voice opposition to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Uddhav Thackeray framed the demonstration as a fight to protect democracy and the fundamental rights of voters. Speaking to the gathering, he took a hardline stance against the current administration, stating, "We are standing here today to overthrow the dictator."
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made serious allegations regarding the integrity of the electoral process, claiming that the names of approximately 13 crore people have been purged from voter lists across the nation. He specifically mentioned that voters in states like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu had also been excluded, questioning whether the Home Ministry was using the CEC to undermine citizenship rights.
Demands for Cancellation of SIR
Raj Thackeray echoed these sentiments, focusing his criticism on the SIR exercise within Maharashtra. He demanded an immediate halt to the process, raising concerns over the sudden fluctuations in voter numbers.
Key allegations raised by Raj Thackeray include:
- The claim that 40 to 60 lakh voters were added during previous Assembly elections to influence power dynamics.
- The allegation that the current SIR process is being used to remove nearly two crore voters from the rolls.
- A call for all political parties to unite in Delhi to demand the cancellation of the SIR exercise.
- A demand to discontinue voting machines and return to the use of ballot papers for elections.
The Ongoing Controversy
This joint political action comes amidst a heated debate regarding the functioning of the Election Commission and the legitimacy of the electoral roll revision. While the Opposition has raised alarms over potential irregularities, the Election Commission has defended its position.
The Commission maintains that the Special Intensive Revision is a standard procedure intended to update and clean electoral rolls, noting that there are established mechanisms for citizens to submit claims and objections during the process.