Taking serious note of the controversial remarks of of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on north Indians in Maharashtra, the Supreme Court  on Friday said it will not allow Balkanisation of the country.

“This is one nation and we will not accept son of soil theory. We also do not accept galvanization of people. We will not allow Balkanisation of this country,”  said a bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and Markandey Katju.

While directing the petitioner to approach the Maharashtra government and Bombay High Court for redressal, the court commented, “We know what’s happening. It is a dangerous tendency.” The bench refused to pass any direction on two PILs relating to the issue saying since the matter primarily related to law and order situation, it could be brought to the notice of the state government and the petitioners could approach the Bombay High Court.

“It is not possible for this court to give a direction on law and order situation,” the Bench said and also declined to accept the contention that a direction was required to the Election Commission to derecognise MNS as a political party in view of the statements of Thackeray.

“You have to make a representation before the Election Commission for derecognising a political party. How can this court issue mandamus when you have not gone to the EC,” the Bench said. The petitioners alleged that both the state and Union governments did not take steps to contain the violence unleashed on the north Indians by the political workers of the MNS in Mumbai for the past few weeks.

There is large-scale deportation of non-Maharashtrians from the state to other states. As an Indian citizen, every body has a fundamental right to settle in any part of the country, said the petitioner who is also an advocate.