The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant urgent hearing to a petition seeking direction to the Election Commission, to derecognise Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena, for his controversial remarks against north Indians.

A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said that the petition would be heard on February 22, as fixed by the registry. The petition had been filed by advocate Arvind Shukla.

It sought directions to the Centre and the Maharashtra government to take action against Thackeray. The petition alleged that his action had endangered the integrity of the nation.

Thackeray's remarks were intended to cause hatred among people and if he and his party activists were not checked from indulging in unlawful activities it may lead to the situation of civil war, the petition contended.

The advocate, in his petition, said such a situation can be prevented if the Election Commission derecognises his party, MNS, which has been used as a 'banner for attacking north Indians in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai'.

The impact of Thackeray's remarks was such that retaliatory attacks on Maharashtrians have been reported from Jharkhand, the petition maintained.

If immediate action is not taken, the crisis may escalate into a riot-like situation, stated the petition. There have been reports that people involved in culture activities and film industries from other parts of the country have also been attacked, it said.

The petitioner said every citizen has a right under the Constitution to move around freely and settle in any part of the country.