BJP questions Shiv Sena’s integrity

The alleged assault on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya and other BJP workers at Mulund on the occasion of Dussehra has further widened the BJP-Shiv Sena rift, with the saffron party questioning Sena’s outrage over being targeted for corruption in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

The BJP asked why Sena reacted if it was not involved in the civic body corruption.

Shiv sainiks allegedly assaulted Mr Somaiya at a Dussehra programme organised by him in Mulund on Tuesday evening. He was attacked for burning an effigy of ‘corruption mafia in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai’. Party’s local leaders, including chairman of the BMC’s improvement committee Prakash Gangadhare, too, were allegedly attacked by the Shiv sainiks. Mr Somaiya has aggressively targeted Sena, especially the Thackerays, and alleged that the civic body was riddled with mafia-raj and corruption.

“Why does Shiv Sena react every time BJP talks of malpractices in the BMC. Is Sena the mafia in the BMC Why did they feel the pinch when the BJP burnt the effigy of the mafia in BMC,” said Mumbai BJP chief spokesperson Niranjan Shetty.

Retaliating to the allegations, Sena spokesperson Arvind Bhosale said, “Why target only the BMC There are many corrupts, including top BJP leaders, in the state government. Their effigies too should be included in the list.”

“When Somaiya is talking about corruption in BMC, he shouldn’t forget that the commissioner is equally responsible for every thing. This commissioner was appointed by the chief minister, who is a BJP leader,” Mr Bhosale added.

DCP Zone VII, Rajesh Pradhan, confirmed that five Sena activists were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the assault on Mr Somaiya and three-four BJP workers. “We have registered an offence against the arrested Sena activists under sections of the Indian Penal Code, he said. Those arrested include Kiran Nande (40), Nilesh Sawant (37), Nilesh Thakkar (42), Sunil Gore (41) and Kishore Bhoir (42), all residents of Mulund East.