Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena staged demonstrations near the Congress office in Prabhadevi, demanding an apology from former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to Hindus.
The party protested Chavan’s remarks on the Malegaon bomb blast verdict, in which he alleged that BJP leaders avoid the term 'saffron terrorism' and instead call it 'Hindu terrorism' or 'Sanatan terrorism.'
Kayande Slams Congress Leaders
Shiv Sainiks led by MLC Manisha Kayande, spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre and ex-MP Rahul Shevale shouted slogans demanding apologies from Chavan.
Congress leaders like Prithviraj Chavan are defaming Hindus by making statements like Sanatan terrorism, Hindu terrorism, the leaders said.
“Leaders, such as Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan, Digvijay Singh, P Chidambaram and Rahul Gandhi have defamed Hindus by using words like Hindu terrorism, saffron terrorism. These leaders are making statements as if they were spokespersons for Pakistan,” said Kayande.
Effigy Vandalised in Thane
In Thane, the Sena’s youth wing, led by Yuva Sena working president Purvesh Sarnaik, staged protests against Chavan and vandalised his effigy.
Congress Hits Back at Sena’s Protest
Responding to this, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said that if they really wanted to take out a march, they should have done it outside CM's residence. “Because the BJP had allied with the Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, during which its leader Shyama Prasad Mukherjee served as deputy chief minister,” he said.
Reference to ‘Who Killed Karkare’ Book
The demonstrations should have been held near the residence of a Minister in the Mahayuti government because his brother, a retired police officer, has written a book ‘Who Killed Karkare”. Had the demonstrations been held near the Congress office, I would have given copies of the book to the Sena leaders, he said.
