BJP, Shiv Sena fight over Salman Khan' now

Mumbai: Tensions between Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) don’t show any sign of subsiding. Recent memes of BJP Mumbai president Asish Shelar taking a dig at actor Salman Khan’s appointment as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) brand ambassador that are doing the rounds have infuriated Sena supporters. The latter have alleged that the BJP should first ask itself why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had participated in a kite-flying event with Salman.

The row was kicked off when Mr Shelar recently raked up the actor’s controversial past by referencing an incident where the actor allegedly hunted down two blackbucks in Kankani village of Rajasthan in September, 1998. “How can some accused of killing a Chinkara be a brand ambassador of the BMC?” Mr Shelar had told some media outlets.

Immediately Shiv Sena supporters on Twitter sprung into action and started tweeting against Mr Shelar’s comment and posting pictures of Salman and Mr Modi together. Salman was declared the brand ambassador against open defecation by the BMC mid-December. The civic body had been, however, trying to rope in the actor for some time now. Earlier last month, Aaditya Thackeray, the Sena scion visited Salman at his home and had a discussion with him after which the latter agreed to be a part of the BMC’s campaign.

After this, Salman was officially appointed as brand ambassador in the presence of both Mr Thackeray and the municipal commissioner of BMC, Ajoy Mehta.  However, almost 12 days later Mr Shelar attacked the Sena, stating, “I am not against the appointment of anyone but what amuses me is that those who have killed a penguin have appointed someone who has killed a blackbuck.”

Ramesh Solanki, a core committee member of Yuva Sena’s IT cell, tweeted, “I challenge Sehlar Ashish to ask same question to @narendramodi ji otherwise shut up #ShelarKiBakBak”