Enforcement Directorate signboard in MNS crosshairs
The ED's main office, which is at Ballad Pier near Fort in South Mumbai, falls under A Ward of the BMC.
Mumbai: Just days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in connection with the IL&FS scam, his party leaders are up in arms against the state government for not putting up a Marathi language signboard at the ED office located at Ballard Pier.
MNS leader Arvind Gawade on Monday submitted a complaint letter to Brihanmumbai Muni-cipal Corporation’s ‘A’ Ward office, the Mumbai city collector and the Enforcement Directorate office.
The MNS, in its letter, said that clause 20 of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Rules, 1961, mandates every establishment to have a Marathi language signboard written in the Devanagri script.
“Marathi is our state’s official language. If the ED is ashamed of putting up a Marathi signboard, we will gift it to them,” Mr Gawade said.
The Enforcement Directorate falls under the jurisdiction of the central government. However, according to a December 2017 circular issued by the state government, all government offices, whether state or central, should put up signboards in Marathi, along with Hindi and English.
“The circular was issued by BJP leader and state minister Vinod Tawade and the government should at least follow their own rules,” Mr Gawade added.
It is to be noted that as per the three-language formula of the central government, it is mandatory to use regional language signboards in a state.
The ED’s main office, which is at Ballad Pier near Fort in South Mumbai, falls under A Ward of the BMC.
“We have received letter from the party on Monday. According to the rules, Marathi signboards are put up. I will inquire if ED office has done so,” Assistant Municipal Commissioner of ‘A’ ward, Nitin Arte said.
On the other hand, Mumbai City collector Shivaji Jhondale claimed that the issue of signboards comes under the purview of the municipal corporation.
Mr Jhondale said that his office would ask the civic body to put up a Marathi language signboard at the Enforcement Dirctorate office.