Police have denied permission for the Shiv Senas high-profile annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park,on the ground it has been declared a silent zone. The Sena will move court. Dussehra falls on October 17 this year. Every year since its formation,the Shiv Sena has celebrated the festival with a massive rally on the iconic ground in Dadar,minutes away from the party headquarters. Earlier this year,the High Court declared the ground a silence zone and imposed restrictions on its use for non-sporting events. The local police grant permission for rallies. Following the refusal,Shiv Sena leaders said they still have time to approach the court and request a relaxation. We have to approach the court and communicate that the rally is not just a political event. It marks a social and cultural tradition for the state, said MP Sanjay Raut. Raut said the party or the civic body would approach the court as the rally has been held at the same location for 45 years. There has been no decision against the Dussehra rally particularly,nor have the residents objected about the rally. We have time on our hands,we will go to court. Political parties like the MNS and the NCP were launched from this ground and a rally here is considered a test of political clout.
