In a relief for the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday, the Bombay High Court granted the party permission to hold its Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar
In a relief for the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday, the Bombay High Court granted the party permission to hold its Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park, Dadar. The permission came only after the party assured the bench that it will take care to not violate the Noise Pollution (regulation and control) Rules, 2000.
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The bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Prakash Naik had demanded from the MNS an undertaking that it will not violate any rules of the noise pollution act. A petition had been filed by WeCom Trust saying Shivaji Park is in a silence zone, and it questioned how a rally can be held there.
Senior counsel V A Thorat, appearing for the MNS told the court, that an undertaking had already been given to the BMC while seeking permission and the party will abide by the law. Thorat also assured the bench that this year MNS was not using loudspeakers but will be using Sound Distribution Systems. They will also be putting up sound barricades.
Thorat went on to tell the bench that noted Marathi author Prahlad Keshav Atre (Acharya Atre), and founder of the Communist Party of India and author, Shripad Dange, had always used the park to speak to people, and in a city like Mumbai, one has to have a ground for leaders to speak to followers, it can’t be done at Oval Maidan and Cross Maidan.
The MNS will hold a rally on April 8 for Gudi Padwa at the park, where Thackeray is likely to announce the strategy for the BMC polls.
The party recently completed 10 years. “We will abide by the law,” said leader Nitin Sardesai.