'Victory of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva': Eknath Shinde after SC extends time for rebel Sena MLAs to respond to disqualification notices

After the Supreme Court granted interim relief to Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, the rebel Shiv Sena leader took to Twitter and said this was a "victory of Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and thoughts of Anand Dighe".

"This is the victory of the Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva and the thoughts of Dharmaveer Anand Dighe (sic)," Shinde tweeted in Marathi with #realshivsenawins.

Earlier today, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition." The top court has now posted the matter for hearing on July 11.

The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader.

The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days.

On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs.

(With ANI inputs)

Published on: Monday, June 27, 2022, 05:38 PM IST