BOMBAY: Justice S.P. Bharucha of the Bombay High Court recommended to the President of India that Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray be disqualified from running for any public office.
He found’ Thackery and former Bombay mayor Ramesh Prabhoo guilty of corrupt practices including inciting sectarian hatred during the election of the state legislative assembly in December 1987.
Shiv Sena claims that only Hindus should live in India. It says that Muslims Christians and Sikhs should convert to Hinduism if they want to live in India.
During the 1987 election Shiv Sena said they did not want Muslim votes. In a recorded speech of Thackery, which was present in the court he said, “If the Shiv Sena comes to power, than everybody will have to be converted to Hinduism.”
He also complained that Muslim population rose from 20 million to 140 million since 1947 and said he would force them to practice family planning. Shiy Sena spokesman said that the Sena would appeal the judge’s decision.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
