Another SC hearing date irks Uddhav camp, NCP

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav group) and the Nationalist Congress Party expressed their frustration over yet another date being given by the Supreme Court on the issue of the disqualification of 16 Shiv Sena MLAs sought by the Uddhav group.

The apex court, which was hearing the issue of the disqualification of the 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs including Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, posted the matter for hearing on February 14.

The development comes as the Uddhav group has claimed that the BJP has been trying to pressurise the judiciary as well as the Election Commission. "There was a movie once where the character agitated over the delay in repeated dates being given by the court saying 'Tareekh pe tareekh, insaaf nahi mil raha hai (date after date, justice is not been given)'," said Shiv Sena MLC Ambadas Danve, leader of opposition in the legislative council. "I personally feel that we are seeing the same situation here. The truth is out in the front (of everyone). The Shiv Sena (leadership's) diktat was violated (by the rebels). The Representation of People's Act is clear. I feel that at least on the (new) date there should be a verdict."


Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, however, refrained from criticising the court. "Tareekh pe Tareekh toh hone waali hai (date after date is bound to happen). It is their (judiciary's) right. Can you and I question the judiciary? The Shiv Sena will use its rights to fight the case. We are also seeing that dates are constantly being given for the past six months," he said.