The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena welcomed the Bombay High Court's decision to allow it to hold its annual Dussehra rally at the iconic Shivaji Park ground, saying its faith in the judiciary stood vindicated.
Welcoming the decision, party spokesperson Manisha Kayande said this year's rally will be grand. There must have been some pressure on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) which had denied the permission, she claimed.
The BMC denied permission to both the factions, citing a police report that granting permission to any one faction will lead to law and order problem. A division bench of Justices R.D. Dhanuka and Kamal Khata allowed the petition filed by the Thackeray-led Sena faction and its secretary Anil Desai challenging the Mumbai civic body's order refusing them permission.The BMC order was a "clear abuse of the process of law and bonafide," said the court.
“Our faith in the judiciary stands vindicated. For the last many years, Dussehra rally has been taking place at `Shiv-tirtha' (as the Sena refers to Shivaji Park), but this time attempt was made through the Shinde faction and BJP to create obstacles. Thankfully, the court rejected it,” said Sena secretary Vinayak Raut. The Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde too had applied for permission to hold its rally at Shivaji Park on the same day (October 5).