MNS Chief Raj Thackeray slams Maha govt for failing to implement SC directive on Marathi signboards

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday criticised the Maharashtra government for failing to implement a Supreme Court directive on installing Marathi signboards on shops and other establishments.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday criticized the state government for failing to implement a Supreme Court directive on installing Marathi signboards on shops and other establishments. He claimed that the ruling coalition pays just lip service to Marathi and Hindutva issues.

Thackeray slams state govt

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Thackeray said the state government talks about the ideologies of Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray but never follows them. Replying to a question related to MNS agitation for Marathi signboards on shops and various other commercial establishments, Thackeray said despite a Supreme Court order on the matter, the state government has failed to implement it.

"Our government pays just lip service to Marathi and Hindutva issues. They talk about the ideologies of Balasaheb Thackeray, but do not follow or act on them. Despite a court order on the Marathi signboard issue, they have been unable to implement it. When I asked them to remove loudspeakers atop mosques, that time also they did not do so," said the MNS leader.

SC order on Marathi signboards

The Supreme Court earlier gave shopkeepers and other commercial establishments in the state a two-month deadline to install signboards in the Marathi Devnagri script in bold letters. The deadline ended on November 25. As per the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Regulation of employment and conditions of service Rules, 2018, and the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service Amendment Act, 2022, respectively, the signboards of establishments must be in Marathi.

Thackeray's criticism of the state government for failing to implement the Supreme Court order on Marathi signboards has sparked a debate on the issue. It remains to be seen whether the government will take any action in response to Thackeray's demands.