Shiv Sena Jumps Off The Bandh-Wagon

Mumbai: Will Shiv Sena sponsored Mumbai bandhs be a thing of the past? Yes. But only till the Supreme Court disposes an appeal, which the saffron party plans to file in the apex court against an order of the Bombay high court.

The court here had recently imposed a fine of Rs. 20 lakh each on Sena and its ally, Bharatiya Janata Party, for organizing a Mumbai bandh on July 30, 2003. About eight public-spirited citizens, including former Union cabinet secretary B G Deshmukh, filed a PIL focusing on the economic loss and inconvenience suffered by citizens.

Sena chief Bal Thackeray said on Saturday that his party held the judiciary in high esteem and hence would not commit contempt of court by calling for a Mumbai bandh. This is why, the party did not endorse the call for a bandh given recently by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to protest the terrorist attack on the Ram janamabhoomi temple complex in Ayodhya, he added.

But the Sena will appeal to the SC against the lower court's order, he added. Even after the Sena files its appeal, it will be several months before the SC passes its order. Which means that Mumbaikars can look forward to a bandh-free Mumbai for a long time to come.

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