Shiv Sena says it has never been against Jain community

Days after hitting out at a Jain monk for reportedly campaigning for the BJP in a civic poll, the Shiv Sena today asserted it was not against the community.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, however, continued its tirade against the BJP, accusing it of having run a "campaign around caste and religion" in the August 20 elections to the adjoining Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).

Last week, Sena leader Sanjay Raut had slammed Jain muni Naypadmasagarji Maharaj for allegedly violating poll code by asking people to vote for the BJP in the MBMC to uphold vegetarianism in the twin townships. Raut even equated the monk with controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik.
 

The Sena, which had moved the EC against the monk, said it was not opposed to the Jains, who have wide presence in Mumbai and adjoining areas.

"In the recently held Mumbai and Mira-Bhayander civic polls, there was a poisonous campaign in the name of caste and religion. The truth is we have never been aggressive against the Jain community or our Jain brothers. On the contrary, we still consider them Hindus and have been protecting them," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The BJP swept the MBMC polls, bagging 61 of the 95 seats, while the Sena trailed far behind with 22 seats. In the Mumbai civic polls held early this year, the BJP had won just two seats less than its ally Shiv Sena.

Taking a dig at the BJP, the Sena said with the advent of a new government, the country was facing new problems.

"Earlier we had one enemy. Today, along with Pakistan, even China is threatening a war. Terrorism and naxalism still exist. Apart from this, number of people refusing to chant 'Vande Mataram' is increasing," the Sena publication said.

Demonetisation has broken the backbone of Indian economy, slowed down GDP growth besides adversely affecting industrial and business activities, the Marathi daily said.

Agriculturists, too, are suffering, it said.

"Farmers are in a bad shape due to crop losses and mounting loans. Instead of registering a drop, the number of farmer suicides has gone up under the new government," it said.

The Sena said attempts were being made to challenge "the sons of the soil".

The Bal Thackeray-founded outfit is closely identified with the "the sons of the soil" politics in Maharashtra.

"Dirty vote-bank politics is being played. All this is being done to challenge the sons of the soil. To counter this, locals will have to show their valour," the Sena added.