Shiv Sena to give knives to women on Bal Thackeray's birth anniversary

The Shiv Sena has planned to distribute knives to women as a ‘haldi-kumkum’ gift on the birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray on January 23.

A party source said, “Chinese knives, which can be folded and kept in small purses, will be distributed to women in the events lined up for Jan 23.” Currently, only the south Mumbai wing of the Sena has planned this, but other wings may soon follow.

Ajay Chowdhary, the head of the Sena’s south Mumbai wing, said, “The Sena has decided to empower women as the government has failed to do so.” He added that the party will “take care” of legal cases registered against any woman if she uses the knife in self defence.