Sena Maratha leaders too have expressed their concern about the cartoon and the rising unrest among the Maratha community.
To add to the ongoing criticism faced by the Shiv Sena for publishing a derogatory cartoon in the Sunday supplement of its mouthpiece Saamna, NCP leader Ajit Pawar has now demanded an apology from the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samaana editor Sanjay Raut for insulting the sentiments of the Maratha community.
Pawar held Sena president Uddav Thackeray and Saamna's editor Sanjay Raut directly responsible. The cartoon that portrays a man kissing a woman and the placard held up by the woman reads "Mooka Morcha" or "kiss' protest" instead of "Mook Morcha" or "silent protest. He demanded that " They should tender an apology. The Saamna cartoon has insulted the sentiment of our community and people are coming on the street and protecting their rights. Rather than helping them and resolving their issues, Shiv Sena has rubbed the salt on their injury."
Pawar also stated that not only should the cartoonist apologize but Uddhav Thackeray should also immediately apologize and end the issue. "Otherwise our community people will teach them a lesson," Pawar said.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant also demanded an apology from Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut "If these leaders do not want to express regret about their act then the state government should take action against them and register an FIR," Sawant said.
He also stated that those who criticize the Sena are made to tender a public apology. "If the Sena can make others apologize, why not they? People will not tolerate the arrogance of the Sena. The entire Maratha community is angry. Shiv Sena should understand the sentiment of the people," Sawant said.
A number of Sena Maratha leaders have expressed their concern about the cartoon and the rising unrest among the Maratha community. A Sena minister who requested anonymity said "Of the 62 MLA's, 48 are Marathas while the 18 member Parliament has 12 MP's that belong to the Maratha community. If we do not support them and make an apology the entire community will go against us in the local body elections. This should not be made an ego issue because the party is suffering and the party leadership should end the matter."
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