'Shiv Sena’s reprehensible attack on Observer Research Foundation’s Sudheendra Kulkarni yesterday (October 12), for organising former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri’s book launch in Mumbai, is another step back for a party desperately trying to remain relevant both to its voting constituency as well as in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Maharashtra. Last week, it threatened to violently disrupt noted ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai, scaring the organiser into cancelling the event.
'Aggressively pursuing its campaign against Pakistani personalities, Shiv Sena activists today blackened the face of ORF chief Sudheendra Kulkarni over his refusal to cancel the book launch function of former Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, prompting strong condemnation from political parties. However, undeterred by the violent protest, which Shiv Sena called "very mild", the organisers, including the Observer Research Foundation, went ahead with the programme which was held amid tight security following threats of disruption by the pro-Hindutva party.
'Pakistani ghazal legend Ghulam Ali's concert in Mumbai scheduled on October 9 has been cancelled. "Ghulam Ali will not be coming for the concert which was to be held on October 9," event organiser Randhir Roy said. The concert was cancelled after a meeting between organizers and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. The Shiv Sena had threatened to disrupt the show...
Why does “collective conscience” take a holiday when it comes to the victims of riots orchestrated to further the cause of majoritarian politics? The rage generated by the hanging of Yakub Memon for the 1993 Bombay bombings will not die down anytime soon. While some continue with the chest thumping, others decry the barbarity of capital punishment.
"The cover story in Tehelka's latest issue, "Who Is The Biggest Terrorist Of Them", showed the image of Thackeray alongside Yakub Memon, Dawood and Bhindranwale... Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Saturday submitted a complaint to the police against the news magazine Tehelka, seeking criminal action for their recent cover story. The Shivaji Park police made a station diary entry based on a complaint filed by Bala Nandgaonkar against the article carried by the magazine, which equated Bal Thackeray with Dawood Ibrahim and Yakub Memon!
'...One hundred people including chartered accountant Yakub Memon were convicted of conspiracy to carry out the blasts. For killing 257 people, he was awarded the death sentence. Other key suspects and accused are absconding and have fled India. As for the riots, there was no doubt about who the perpetrators were. They were themselves vocal about it. But to come back to judicial findings backed by voluminous evidence:
'MP Sanjay Raut demanded that the Muslim community should be disenfranchised to put an end to vote-bank politics, sending shock waves through political circles and triggering a firestorm of protest. The Mumbai police stepped up vigil across the city to prevent any communal in view of the article. In a signed article in Saamna, the Sena mouthpiece, on Sunday, Raut slammed both secular and Hindutva forces for playing upon the insecurities of the Muslim community to win elections. "In elections, some want a Muslim candidate, while others don't.
'Beef lovers in Maharashtra will now have to do without the red meat as President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bill during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995. The slaughter of cows was previously prohibited in the state under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976. However, the passage of the new Act will ban the slaughter of bulls as well as bullocks, which was previously allowed based on a fit-for-slaughter certificate.
'Young couples faced the wrath of moral policing by saffron outfits like Bajrang Dal, Hindu Mahasabha, Shiv Sena and Hindu Yuva Vahini in different parts of Uttar Pradesh on Valentine's Day on Saturday. While 'love birds' were publicly humiliated and manhandled by the members of the saffron outfit in Lucknow, Kanpur, Jhansi and Bulandshahr, in Gorakhpur police were seen chasing couples from parks and public places. Several activists were arrested and detained on charges of breach of peace.
'Activists of the right-wing Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena on Saturday tried to disrupt Valentine's Day celebrations at several cities, particularly the State capital, Kanpur and Bareilly, and targeted young couple at shopping malls and parks. The police, which were on high alert, arrested several people for disturbing law and order situation.
