Shiv Sena backs Narendra Modi's remarks on Muslims

In what will be interpreted as a conciliatory gesture towards the BJP, the Shiv Sena on Monday backed prime minister Narendra Modi's remarks about Muslims in India, but reminded them that his words should not go in vain.

"Narendra Modi has given a commendation to the Muslims of the country. However, because of him calling Muslims patriots, this should not be interpreted as dilution of his Hindutva," stated an editorial in the Saamna.

It stressed that Modi represented all sections and it criticized pseudo-secularists for attacking Modi as "an enemy of Muslims".

Saamna is the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena and the party's president Uddhav Thackeray is also editor of the daily newspaper.

"Modi has given a guarantee of the patriotism of Muslims. It is the duty of Muslims to ensure that his words are not in vain," the editorial stated.

"By giving a guarantee of the patriotism of the Muslims, Modi has begun a new chapter... The entire Muslim community cannot be branded as accused just because some Muslims are engaged in terrorism," the editorial stated.

It also explained that late Bal Thackeray, who was the 'staunchest proponent of Hindutva', was not against all Muslims but against only those who sided with Pakistan and that Modi's comments were similar to the views of Bal Thackeray.

The Saamna editorial appealed to Muslims to join the mainstream and said once they accepted the country as their motherland, issues like the Uniform Civil Code, singing Vande Mataram, construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, would be solved.

"Once Muslims throw off the burkha of fundamentalism, the shops of many politicians will be closed down," it said.

It also pointed out that some countries created in the name of Islam were under threat from Muslims themselves, but Muslims in India were better off. "Even then, some fundamentalists give calls of (Islam) in danger. This is because of their selfish interests and the ego of a Muslim vote bank," the editorial stated..