Chastened by widespread criticism of the “anti-Muslim” remarks, made by its senior leader Ramdas Kadam at the NDA rally in the city on Monday night, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday distanced itself from Kadam’s remarks, saying that they were his “personal views” and that they did not reflect the party’s position.
Clarifying the party’s stand on Kadam’s questionable remarks against Muslims at the NDA rally, a Sena spokesperson said: “The statements made by Shri Ramdas Kadam do not echo the sentiments of Shri Balasaheb Thackeray, Uddhavji Thackeray and the Shiv Sena party. It is his personal view. The party’s stand on Hindutva is clear and has been voiced by Uddhavji time and again in the past”.
Speaking at the NDA rally, Kadam had alluded to the Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai in 2012 and virtually handed a threat to sections of Muslims based in the city. “These Muslims attack our police personnel and burn their vehicles. They vandalise martyr’s memorials. They molest our women police personnel. We should not tolerate these kinds of acts by the Muslims. If some people outrage the modesty our mothers and sisters in a manner they did at the Azad Maidan, Narendra Modi will not let them go unpunished”.
Kadam, a former leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, was speaking at the rally held at the BKC grounds here in North-Central Mumbai, when the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi arrived on the stage.
Known for rabble-rousing public speeches, Kadam also hit out at Pakistan in his address. “Remember the days of 1993 blasts in Mumbai. lives of many Hindus were saved because of the intervention of late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray and Shiv Sena. Now, if Modi comes to power, he will destroy the Pakistan in six months,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde sought to downplay Kadam’s remarks by saying: “What Kadam meant was that action would be taken against Pakistanis and Bangladeshis illegally staying in Mumbai and those illegal migrants who are enrolled as voters in the city”.