Shaken and stirred, Sena finally reacts

The noisy Raj’s brigade has forced the Shiv Sena to finally break its silence on Marathi manoos

MUMBAI: The fact that Sena chief Bal Thackeray had to step in to run down nephew has set tongues wagging in political quarters. It signals that the Sena is not comfortable with agitation against North Indians unleashed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to consolidate its base among the sons of the soil in Mumbai. How else does one explain Thackeray senior’s scathing attack coupled with caution to Sainiks not to fall prey to Raj’s political stunts?

Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray has decided to remain silent on Raj. As his close associate said, “Uddhav wants to show that he does not think the issue merits a dekko.” Senior Sena leaders Subhash Desai and Sanjay Raut have said people are well-versed with Sena’s commitment to the sons-of-the-soil issue. Raut said, “MNS is basking in temporary glory, while Sena has proved itself over 42 years.”
 
Raj has managed to strike an emotive chord with Shiv Sainiks. It is a different matter whether he will be able to sustain the sympathy and take benefit of it in electoral politics.

By calling Raj “bird flu-affected poultry with no market value”, Shiv Sena has tried to rubbish his credentials. But such rhetorics do not explain how MNS succeeded in bringing the western suburbs to a standstill after rumours of Raj’s arrest on Thursday despite Sena’s dominance in the region. Or how hundreds poured on to the streets in support of Raj at Shivaji Park.

To strengthen its case against Raj, the editorial has sought refuge in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar to admonish Raj. Bal Thackeray-Pawar friendship is no secret. But what comes as a bigger surprise is Sena dragging Dr BR Ambedkar’s name in the migrant politics issue to score brownie points.

 Saamna said even Dr Ambedkar had participated in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. “He had expressed concern over influx of migrants in Mumbai,” said the Sena mouthpiece. Dr Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash said, “I have never read such a thing. What surprises me is how the Shiv Sena, which has always accused Dr Ambedkar for disloyalty to the country, is using his name to enhance its own image.”

Thackeray, who edits Saamna, may succeed in restraining Sainiks from making common cause with MNS on Marathi plank, by undermining Raj. But it also shows that MNS is giving Sena sleepless nights at the moment.

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee president Gurudas Kamat demanded arrest of Raj Thackeray even as he called MNS “a party of goons”.