Raj Thackeray booked for hate speech in Nashik

After Varun Gandhi, MNS chief Raj Thackeray was on Sunday in trouble for his hate speech with the police booking him on charges of violating the model code of conduct and promoting enmity between groups, a day after he revived his anti-north Indian campaign at a poll rally in Nashik.

A case was registered against Raj at the Sarkarwada police station after the district collector asked the police to probe whether the MNS leader's speech had violated the model code of conduct, police inspector Praveen Kulkarni said.

Raj, who led a violent anti-north India campaign last year and was arrested and released on bail, was on Sunday charged under IPC's Section 153 (A)(promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, language etc) and Section 188 (disobedience of order promulgated by a public servant).

Raj has also been charged under Section 125 of the Representtaive of People Act (any person who in connection with election promotes enmity between different classes on grounds of religion, race, caste community etc), Kulkarni said.

Launching the party's election campaign on Saturday, Raj Thackeray had accused people and leaders hailing from the region of having "no affection" for Maharashtra and urged voters to elect his party candidates to uphold the dignity of 'Marathi manoos'.

comments