In its stinging criticism of Amit Shah, the Shiv Sena on Friday demanded to know as to where was the “powerful” Union Home Minister when Delhi was burning, what was he doing and why was he not seen in the national Capital.

“When Delhi erupted and was burning, where was Union Home Minister? What was he was he doing? These questions are being asked. The Delhi riots have so far claimed 38 lives and there has enormous loss to public property. Had there been a Congress or any alliance government at the Centre, the Opposition BJP would have demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister,” the Sena’s official mouth-piece stated.

In an editorial published in “Saamana”, the Shiv Sena said that had it been in the Opposition, the BJP would have indulged in all protests, including organising a morcha or a gherao to demand  the Union Home Minister. “But this cannot happen now. Because, the BJP is in power and the Opposition is weak. Still, Sonia Gandhi has demanded the resignation of Amit Shah,” the Saamana editorial said.

Coming down heavily for Shah's absence during the early days of riots in the national capital, the “Saamana” editorial stated: “It is surprising that the country's powerful Home Minister was nowhere to be seen in Delhi during the riots. Not long ago when the Delhi Assembly polls were held, he was seen going door to door distributing pamphlets and he spared so much of his time for campaigning.

Questioning the Centre’s delay in responding to riots in Delhi, the editorial said: “When the Home Minister was in Ahmedabad (on February 24) welcoming visiting US President Donald Trump, an IB staffer was murdered in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace after three full days and NSA Ajit Doval was on the streets of Delhi talking to people. What is the use now of these measures after the damage has been done?", Saamana wondered.

“The Opposition in Parliament is bound question Shah as to where he when Delhi witnessed a spiral of violence and was burning. In such an event, will the ruling BJP dub all those who questions on this issue as anti-nationals?,” the Sena asked.

Slamming the Centre for the manner in which it transferred the Delhi high court judge S. Muralidhar hours after he said that "another 1984-like situation cannot be allowed to happen in the city under its watch" and indicted the Delhi Police for inaction during the recent riots, the “Saamana” editorial said: “Within 24 hours after Judge Murlidhar flagged the riots issue and said that time has come for provide Z security to ordinary citizens, order was issued from Rashtrapati Bhavan transferring him.  After the Judge passed strictures against the Centre and the state government, truth itself became causality”.

“The high court ordered registration of cases against Union Minister of State

Anurag Thakur, BJP MP Parveszh Varma and party leader Kapil Mishra. The Government punished the Judge who issued an order against these three leaders,” the editorial said.

“Is punishment being meted out for speaking truth in court? What was wrong thing that Justice Murlidhar said? What all he said was truth,” the Sena said.

In its severe castigation of the BJP for the manner in which it was practising nationalism in the country, the Sena said: “Insanity and bigotry displayed by in the practitioners of nationalism have pushed the country three hundred years backwards. Hate speeches have become investment for the ruling BJP. The economy has collapsed. But the ruling party is marketing its hate speeches in full swing”.