Sena eye on civic polls: MNS A day after the BMC directed shops and establishments to make Marathi prominent on signboards within 60 days,the MNS said the Shiv Sena was preparing for the BMC elections and they should just ensure compliance to law. The BMC has given a 60-day deadline to shopkeepers to re-write their signboards,with Marathi more prominent than other languages. Though rules have been in place since 1961,the BMC had taken up the drive following a heated linguistic politics in Mumbai with the MNS last year. The MNS had hijacked the BMCs Marathi signboard drive by threatening action for non-compliance. It is already in the law that the signboards should be in Marathi. Now,they are giving another deadline. The question is whether they can implement it and take punitive action against violators, said MNS leader Atul Sarpotdar. The question is not about who can implement it,the question is that how long will it take for them to implement it. Werent they (Sena) in the BMC for 15 years,what were they doing all this while? After their loss in the Assembly elections,they have to prepare for the BMC elections in two-and-a-half years. That is why these measures. Whatever be the reason,the decision should be implemented, Sarpotdar said. Traders to go to Supreme CourtThe Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) is contemplating to challenge,in the Supreme Court,the High Courts directive on prominent Marathi signboards. The civic administration had cited a nine-month-old High Court order while directing shopkeepers to re-write their signboards. FRTWA president Viren Shah said there was a misinterpretation in the BMCs reading of the directive. We will seek a clarification from the HC at the next hearing. According to Maharashtra Shops and Establishment rule of 1961,the display of Marathi signboard is compulsory. In 2000,the rule was amended,saying the Marathi font should be most prominent. The federation had challenged the decision and the High Court issued a stay. The issue was raked up again last year when the MNS issued its own deadline for Marathi boards. In August 2008,the federation moved a notice of motion against the MNS threats; the High Court disposed of the petition . The federation claims only its notice of motion was disposed of and not the original petition. The BMC maintains it will take action on shopkeepers.
