Sainiks burn Shelar’s effigy for 'anti-Sena' remarks, Saamna spews fire at Modi for inability to bring back black money

MUMBAI: Shiv Sainiks on Tuesday held demonstrations against city BJP chief Ashish Shelar and state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari for their recent utterances against the Shiv Sena. A batch of Shiv Sena workers burned effigies of the two BJP functionaries in Churchgate.
Shelar refused to comment on the protest.
In a related development, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna on Tuesday chided Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Centre’s delay in unearthing the black money stashed abroad.The BJP-Shiv Sena face-off has to be viewed in the context of the 2017 civic polls in the city, said analysts. The two allies are set to part ways for the crucial election to the country’s richest municipal corporation. They said that the trading of charges and mutual acrimony are part of the larger BJP-Shiv Sena gameplan to firm up their respective constituencies.
In a carping comment on the PM’s latest ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, Saamna said during the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the PM had promised that black money stashed abroad for decades would be brought back. Following this every Indian will be richer by at least Rs 15 lakh. Now, Modi's detractors are asking questions about the fulfilment of the poll assurance, said Saamna.
Pointing out that black money could be found chiefly in politics, Saamna said the country’s electoral system was rooted in black money. “Why are captains of industry needed for the Rajya Sabha election? Why do political parties need captains of industry to defeat each other in such elections?” Saamna asked and said the country was awash with black money.
“There is no need to go to Switzerland or Mauritius looking for black money,” it said in an editorial.
Saamna said the PM should be given some time to fulfil his promise on black money.
The BJP and Shiv Sena have been at each other’s throat following an article, written by Bhandari, in the latest issue of Manogat, a BJP magazine.
The Shiv Sena flew off the handle as Bhandari compared party president Uddhav Thackeray with a funny character in ‘Sholay’.
The Sainiks held demonstration in Girgaum last week, condemning Bhandari and BJP national president Amit Shah. Shiv Sena corporator Kishori Pednekar compared Shah with the character of Gabbar Singh, also from 'Sholay'. Last Sunday, Shelar had warned the Shiv Sena that BJP activists too can pour out on the streets.
The Azad Maidan police arrested nine Shiv Sainiks for burning Shelar’s effigy.