Accusing the Maharashtra government of being lax in arresting culprits involved in rationalist Narendra Dabholkar's murder, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today said the government was bent on "maligning" the image of Hindu organisations by linking them to the killing.
"The perpetrators of Dabholkar's murder are still at large as police have failed to nab them even five days after the incident. We warn government to refrain from linking Hindu organisations to the murder and maligning their image," he said.
Uddhav was addressing a public meeting of party workers here.
The Shiv Sena supremo's comment came against the backdrop of reports that right wing Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha could have been behind the murder of the leading anti-superstition activist, who had been opposing blind faith.
Sanatan Sanstha has already denied the allegations.
"....Congress government seems prompt in linking Hindu organisations to Dabholkar's murder..I would like to know why no action was taken against Hyderabad-based MIM leader Owaisi?, he said.
Uddhav was referring to the alleged hate speech made by MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi against a particular community last year.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday hinted at the possibility of the involvement of the right wing outfits behind the murder of Dabholkar by equating his assassination with that of Mahatma Gandhi.
On the Anti Black Magic and Superstition Ordinance promulgated by Maharashtra government recently, Uddhav said Shiv Sena was against blind faith and quacks, who mislead people by claiming magical powers.
He denied the allegation levelled by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, led by his estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, that pock-marked roads in Nashik are the legacy of Shiv Sena which had earlier controlled the local municipal corporation.
