Sena force feeding: HC to hear plea seeking disqualification of MPs on 6 August

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court will hear on 6 August a PIL seeking direction to Lok Sabha Speaker and Chairman of Rajya Sabha to disqualify 11 Shiv Sena MPs for allegedly force-feeding a Ramzan-observing employee of IRCTC at the new ‘Maharashtra Sadan’ here.

The plea seeks de-recognition of Shiv Sena and also initiation of criminal case against the MPs including Sanjay Rout and Rajan Vichare, who represents Thane Lok Sabha seat.

The petition, which was listed before the bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini, was re-notified to 6 August.

It has been alleged that Vichare, irked over the poor quality of food, force-fed Arshad Zubair, Maharashtra Sadan catering supervisor, on 17 July before some television cameras.

The petition, filed by NGO Garib Nawaz Foundation through lawyer NK Jha, has also sought immediate arrest of the MPs for “provoking religious sentiments against the minority community”.

“The action of the Shiv Sena MPs with the fasting Muslim supervisor was uncalled for and needed to be dealt with a strict action by party chief Udhav Thackeray,” the PIL said.

“Forcibly shoving a ‘chapati’ by MPs was a cowardly act as they are representatives of the people and are elected by the people for their service and not for provoking religious sentiments,” it said.

It also sought a direction to the Centre to order a high level probe into the incident by a special investigation team headed by a sitting High Court judge.

PTI