In its effort to blunt the fierce criticism faced by it from various quarters over a party MPs force-feeding a Muslim employee of IRCTC at the New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, the Shiv Sena on Thursday charged that the ruling Congress was trying to politicise and “give a communal colour” to brush under the carpet corruption prevailing at the Sadan.
On a day when its president Uddhav Thackeray demanded the suspension of Resident Commissioner of New Maharashtra Sadan Bipin Malik pending an inquiry into the much-discussed force-feeding incident, the Sena said that the Congress’ efforts to politicise the incident would boomerang on it in the forthcoming State Assembly polls.
“By giving a communal colour to the incident, the Congress is trying to dig its own grave. The people will not forgive the ruling Congress in the Assembly polls,” an editorial in the Sena’s official mouth-piece Saamana stated.
“Sena respects all religions but will not tolerate if anyone tries to flaunt his religious affiliation for intimidation. One should practise his religion in his heart. Faith in religion is an individual matter. If someone tries to politicise and cash in on a religious matter so as to malign the Shiv Sena, then we will hit back firmly,” the “Saamana” editorial stated.
The Sena mouth-piece also accused Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithciraj Chavan of going out of the way to patronise Sadan’s Resident Commissioner Malik. “The manner in which the Chief Minister is playing up to Malik is an insult to Maharashtrians.
“Malik has turned Maharashtra Sadan into a personal fiefdom. Still, the chief minister is going out of the way to keep Malik in good humour. This is an insult to the Marathi manoos. Instead of taking cognizance of the voice raised by the Marathi MPs in New Delhi, the chief minister and the state chief secretary are trying to give communal colour to the incident," the editorial stated.
Maintaining that ruling Congress continued to be “shameless” despite the humiliating defeat it suffered in the recent lok Sabha polls, the Sena mouth-piece stated: “We warn all those who are trying to hide one’s corruption by trying to give a communal colour to the incident at New Maharashtra Sadan should realize that the Shiv Sena will be ruling Maharashtra after the Assembly polls”.
The video-footage of the July 17 incident at New Maharashtra Sadan showed that Rajan Vichare, who was among a group of 11 party MPs that had staged a protest against the “poor quality” of the food served at the Sadan, was trying to force a fasting Muslim staffer of IRCTC to eat a chapatti.
Defending Vichare for force-feeding at, the Saamana editorial wondered: “Was it wrong to question the injusticeIJ. Was it wrong to question the catering contractor on quality of food served thereIJ".
"What is wrong if the chapati is taken to the mouth of the contractor and he was asked to eat it. It was not written on his face that he was a Muslim. It was just a coincidence. The contractor serves such chapatis that are difficult to break. How is one supposed to eat such foodIJ" the editorial stated.
In its editorial, “Saamana” heaped praise on BJP MP Kirit Somaiya for exposing corruption prevailing in New Maharashtra Sadan which lacked in basic facilities like clean drinking water, cleanliness and proper canteen management.
Meanwhile, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray rooted for the immediate suspension of Resident Commissioner Malik. “The Maharashtra government should lose no time in ordering an inquiry into the alleged irregularities noticed in the construction of the New Maharashtra Sadan. Malik should be suspended immediately to facilitate an impartial inquiry,” Uddhav said, while talking to media persons at Nashik on Thursday.
Uddhav had on Wednesday dubbed the uproar in Parliament over the incident as an attempt to "silence" his Sena’s voice. Despite we being champions of Hindutva, we have no hatred for other religions. The Opposition parties’ uproar in Parliament is an attempt to silence Shiv Sena's voice." Uddhav had said at Aurangabad.