Days after triggering a controversy by calling for revoking the voting rights of Muslims, Shiv Sena has once again targeted All India Majlis-e-IttehadulMuslimeen (AIMIM) leaders Asaduddin and Akbaruddin Owaisi and called them ‘demons’.
In a fiery editorial published in its mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena called Owaisi brothers ‘demons’ who are a big threat to the nation.
Accusing the Owaisis of ‘poisoning’ the minds of Muslims, Shiv Sena said the Hyderabad-based outfit would be defeated in the Aurangabad municipal polls the same way it was routed in the recently-held Bandra east by-poll.
“The Owaisi brothers (Asaduddin and Akbaruddin), who were recently in Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), issued a fatwa to remove the saffron flag from the civic body and replace it with the green one. What else can be expected from them? The green colour of Pakistan’s flag has filled up their minds,” the Sena said in the editorial of party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’.
Calling MIM a “demon” that is looming over Aurangabad, the saffron party said that the Owaisi brothers should not forget that the people of Sambhajinagar would defeat their party just like in Bandra east by-election.
“Everybody has seen the way MIM’s ideology was defeated in the Bandra by-poll. They keep poisoning the minds of Muslims in Sambhajinagar. But history will repeat itself in polls,” it said.
“The patriotic Muslims voters will show their strong nationalistic streak by not supporting the Owaisi brothers. This is a good chance to bury the demon and purify the land from its ill-effects,” it said.
After all the MIM should not forget that (Mughal emperor) Aurangzeb was buried at the same place (Aurangabad), the party added.
In an apparent jibe at the NCP, Sena said that party strongman Ganesh Naik lost his Belapur seat in last year’s state Assembly polls as a result of people’s anger and the NCP will meet the same fate in Navi Mumbai municipal election as well.
The party also renewed its demand for renaming Aurangabad city as Sambhajinagar.
Shiv Sena leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut recently stirred a hornet’s nest by his article in party’s mouthpiece, Saamna, in which he said that Muslims’ voting rights should be withdrawn to put an end to vote bank politics.
“Balasaheb had once suggested withdrawing Muslims voting rights. Owaisi brothers are doing politics of Muslim votes.” wrote Raut.
