BJP Stirring Religious Sentiments Ahead of Polls: Sena on Maharashtra Violence

Saamana said the BJP has resorted to its traditional ways of inciting religious sentiments to keep a grasp on power.

Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamana on Monday, 15 November, published an editorial on the violence that took place in Maharashtra's Amravati in the wake of communal disharmony in Tripura, pointing out that these inflections are a result of the upcoming legislative Assembly elections.

The editorial has blamed forces from Raza Academy, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for this spell of violence.

Further, the editorial has highlighted the silence on attack on Hindus in Bangladesh as a sign of failure of the Narendra Modi-led government.

Meanwhile, NCP leader has accused BJP leader Ashish Shelar and others from the saffron party of having distributed money and liquor to youth in order to incite riots.

BJP Losing Popularity in Tripura: Saamana

The editorial claims that while the BJP government in Tripura is losing its popularity, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has made inroads in the state. Due to this, the editorial says, the BJP has resorted to its traditional ways of inciting religious sentiments to keep a grasp on power.

The editorial further says that Islamic organisation Raza Academy does not represent the Muslims in Mumbai or Maharashtra, and yet, these organisation instigated heated protests in the state.

Shedding light on the violence in Tripura and Bangladesh, the piece also asserted that if the Hindu minority in Bangladesh feels unsafe, it is the responsibility of the 'Hindutva' Modi government to provide them with a sense of safety.

"What was the point of uniting in Tripura? All the Hindutva organisations should have united and sought an answer from the Modi government in Delhi in this regard," it states.

Sixty people have been arrested for the violence that rocked Maharashtra's Amravati town during a BJP-sponsored bandh on Saturday.

The BJP had called the bandh to protest against the violence that broke out in Nashik, Amravati, and Nanded on Friday, during the statewide demonstrations and rallies by Raza Academy and other Muslim organisations.

The Shiv Sena mouthpiece further said that as Assembly elections come closer, the narrative that Hindus are threatened will gain momentum. Reminding of West Bengal elections earlier this year, where the BJP lost massively despite its star-studded campaign, the editorial claimed that just like the boy who cried wolf, "fake" Hindutva organisations will claim that Hindus are under threat.

The editorial asserts that if Hindus are actually threatened, then it's a failure of the Modi government and they should be questioned about it.

Nawab Malik Blames BJP

NCP leader Nawab Malik said that in the disguise of a ‘bandh’ called on Saturday, BJP’s Anil Bonde and other BJP leaders incited a riot. He added that there was a conspiracy to incite riots in the whole state of Maharashtra.

Further, Malik accused Bonde and other BJP leaders of distributing money and liquor to the youth on the first night of the riot.

Malik added that reports of money from Mumbai having been distributed in Amravati are being investigated.

He further asserted, “We oppose destructive politics. BJP leaders are saying that they will uproot the Maharashtra government. I want to tell them that the work of uprooting the government will not work. The people choose the government.”

Meanwhile, Malik also questioned Raza Academy’s role, saying that they aren’t influential enough to call a ‘bandh’ in the entire state.

He alleged that maulanas from Raza Academy frequently visit offices of political parties.

Further, Malik also accused BJP leader Ashish Shelar of having a close relationship with the Academy and said that he has a photo of Shelar sitting in Raza’s office.

Adding that no one will be spared, Malik stated, “If anyone is involved in the riots from Raza Academy, then it will be investigated.”