Maharashtra govt threatens action against Thackeray

“Prima facie his remarks are against the Constitution and hurting the feelings of the Muslim community. The government has taken serious cognisance of his utterance,” Deshmukh told a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting here.

The opinion of the Law and Judiciary department is sought and an appropriate action will be taken by the police accordingly, Deshmukh said.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the government will inform Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister L K Advani about Thackeray’s statements.

The remarks are indeed insulting to the Muslim community, he said and added, “The Sena Chief has the habit of making such statements.”

He, however, refused to disclose when the police investigation will conclude and actual action against Thackeray would be taken.

In an interview to Saamna, Sena’s mouthpiece, Thackeray had called for defranchising of Muslims to negate the vote-bank politics. The Sena Chief had come down heavily on almost all political parties, including BJP, for appeasement of Muslims for the sake of votes.