Bal Thackeray FB post: Sena r efuses to apologise, blames govt for girls' arrest

Bal Thackeray FB post: Sena r efuses to apologise, blames govt for girls' arrest

New Delhi: The all familiar political blame game has begun over the arrest of two girls in Mumbai over a Facebook update which questioned the shutdown in the city over the death of Shiva Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. While the Shiva Sena has blamed the state government for the police action, Union minister Salman Khurshid said the government had no role to play in the episode. "The Government of India is not directly involved but I agree with Mr Kapil Sibal who pointed out that every action taken by the police need not be right," Khurshid said. "Why do you want to blame the Sena for action of the state government and its officials?" a Shiva Sena member had asked. The two girls from Palghar were arrested after one of them posted a new status on her Facebook account denouncing the Mumbai shutdown and the other 'liked' it. The media and the public slammed the police action as unconstitutional and undemocratic with Press Council of India Chairman Justice Katju writing off a letter to Chief Minister PrithvirajChavan in which he flayed the administration for the action taken against the young girls. He urged the government to order the release of the girls immediately failing which he said, he would initiate legal proceedings against the police officers who ordered the arrests. After much media and public outcry, the girls were let off, albeit on a bail of Rs 15,000 each. What is even more shocking is that the girls had been arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments.