Raj Thackeray's Party Alleges Discrimination in Allowing Shiv Sena's Dussehra Rally

Mumbai: The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena or MNS today accused the Maharashtra government of behaving in a partisan manner by allowing Shiv Sena to hold its annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park and striking down their request for the same.

"MNS had also approached the government and the court to allow it to hold its rally at Shivaji Park but our request was rejected," MNS leader Sandip Deshpande told the Press Trust of India. "All parties should get permission to hold rallies at the Park," he said.

"MNS had approached the High Court in 2012 to seek permission but we didn't get it. The then state government made a different affidavit in court than the one made by the Fadnavis government now," Mr Deshpande said.

"The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) had also approached the court to hold its religious congregation at the Park but were denied permission," the MNS leader said.

The Bombay High Court today allowed Shiv Sena to hold its annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on October 22, subject to certain conditions, including adherence to noise pollution rules.

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The conditions - which the Shiv Sena has to abide by this year - had been imposed by the High Court in the past. These pertain to adherence to noise pollution rules and restoration of the ground to its original position after the rally.