Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena force feeders not PIL material: A Delhi high court bench of chief justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath have declined to hear public interest litigation (PIL) to disqualify 11 Shiv Sena MPs who allegedly force-fed a Muslim member of canteen staff over Ramadan as a way of protesting about the bad quality of food. The bench said that the petitioner had not provided enough evidence to show it was a PIL. [PTI]
NaMo lotus symbol selfie did not violate election code: Narendra Modi did not violate election rules when he tweeted a selfie on 30 April with the BJP’s election symbol near an election booth, decided a metropolitan magistrate, since the lotus symbol was part of his attire and the interaction with the press was not pre-planned [PTI]
The force feeding of a fasting Muslim by a Shiv Sena politician was termed “very regrettable and unfortunate” by the home minister in Parliament; an NGO meanwhile took legal action:
Advocate Imran Ali alleged that the act of Sena MP Vichare was a “deliberate act” to “grab public attention” and “hurt sentiments and religious feelings of Muslims”. He claimed that the act was “intentional” since the “Shiv Sena claims and has projected itself to be a non-secular party”.
The lawyer sought registration of an FIR under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity), 295A (deliberate act to insult religious belief) and 298 (intent to wound religious feelings).