After failed attempts by senior Shiv Sena leaders to bring together Sena executive chief Uddhav Thackeray and his estranged cousin and MNS chief Raj, local Sena activists have initiated a campaign in this regard.
The initiative “Mazi Chalval Mi Maharashtracha” (My Movement, I Belong to Maharashtra) led by senior Shiv Sainik from Worli Satish Walunj and six others have decided to launch a “Thackeray Jodo” (Bring the Thackerays Together) campaign here on Sunday.
“Marathi votes are divided between Sena and MNS which is paving the way for outsiders,” Mr Walunj said.
With this campaign, which is purely on the basis of public support and has no involvement of any political leader, the aim was to bring the two cousins together.
“We want the cousins should listen to the public opinion because they are the voters and should respect them,” Mr Walunj said.
The Sainiks also want Uddhav and Raj to come together for the 2012 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections.
“I have not spoken personally with them, but written letters to Sena chief Bal Thackeray and the MNS chief informing them about the Mazi Chalval Mi Maharashtracha campaign,” Mr Walunj said.
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Centre may amend Armed Forces Act
Sumir Kaul
New Delhi
Notwithstanding opposition from the Army and faced with reports of fake encounters, the government is planning to go ahead with certain amendments in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which includes handing over of an Army personnel in case of extra-judicial killings to the state authorities.
While of late, Army officials have been raising issues and even terming AFSPA as a “holy book”, government sources feel that there was a need to give a fresh look to the act and make it more humane.
A draft note has been circulated to the law and defence ministries for their comments as the UPA government continues to strive hard to fulfil the assurance made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in carrying out a thorough review of the AFSPA and making it more humane, the sources said. Once an view is firmed up, the amendments would be listed before the Cabinet Committee on Security, they said.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act gives the Army the powers to detain and, if the situation warrants, eliminate suspected terrorists when they are fighting insurgents without the fear of prosecution.
According to the sources, the amendments also include handing over of Army personnel, who allegedly indulge in fake killings, to the local police authorities for prosecution.
—PTI