A common man, Hiramani Tiwari was thrashed and had his head tonsured by ‘Shiv Sainiks’ for an anti-Uddhav post on Facebook. He had, on December 19th, posted his opinion about Uddhav Thackeray’s statement comparing police action on Jamia students to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Upon receiving threats from various quarters, he had subsequently deleted the post.
Certain extremely loyal Shiv Sainiks, however, showed up at the residence of Tiwari with 25-30 men and called him out of his house. This mob was led by Sena leaders Samadhan Jukdeo and one Prakash Hasbe. In videos doing the rounds on Twitter, the two goons are seen slapping and thrashing Tiwari brutally, to the extent that the man’s medical report states that there is severe damage to his eardrum. The Sena functionaries then went on to threaten Tiwari with dire consequences if such comments were again seen being made against Uddhav Thackeray or Shiv Sena. They also claim that Uddhav Thackeray is their “God”.
They then go on to malign Tiwari and berate him for being a person from North India and Delhi and yet commenting on Uddhav Thackeray. They also proudly state on camera how they have taught him a ‘lesson’ and shaved his head for berating Uddhav Thackeray.
https://twitter.com/AzaadBharat4/status/1209388625353465856?s=20
A Mumbai man, Hiramani Tiwari was thrashed recently by Shiv Sena supporters
He had criticised Uddhav Thackerays comparision of the police action in Jamia Protests to Jallianwala Baug massacre. #ShivSena #UddhavThackeray #HiramaniTiwari pic.twitter.com/C4hT5RQiZs
— The-Pulse (@ThePulseIndia) December 24, 2019
Speaking to media, Hiramani Tiwari stated that he did not retaliate against the thrashing as he was grossly overpowered and outnumbered and any reaction on his part would have caused him a lot more injuries. He also claimed that the police had reached the spot while this incident was occurring. He further asked the Sena government as to how their party workers were taking law into their own hands. According to him, had the Shiv Sena taken up the case legally, it would have been acceptable to him. However, they did not do so and simply resorted to goondagardi. He further asked if he was being punished for being from North India? He also further accused the Shiv Sena of perpetrating an atmosphere of anarchy in the nation.
Hiramani Tiwari, Mumbai was thrashed by @shivsena goons because he Supported PM Modi on CAA & condemned @OfficeofUT on FB pic.twitter.com/17ioHYCXkn
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) December 23, 2019
https://twitter.com/srikanthbjp_/status/1209153463856189441?s=20
Tiwari also said that he was earlier associated with outfits like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal.
Uddhav Thackeray, anyone can easily say, is not in the best of position presently. The goondagardi of his workers will only add to his woes and upset his alliance partners which desperately want to be perceived as a tolerant faction of Indian polity. Shiv Sena seems to have forgotten, in the ecstasy of newly found power, that India is a democracy and every individual has the freedom to have and air their opinions as they deem fit. Moreover, why are the alliance partners of the Sena– the NCP and the Congress not speaking out against this violence of the Sena against a common man? Were they not supposed to protect Indian democracy? Because what has unfolded with Hiramani Tiwari is a glaring example of Shiv Sena’s dictatorship in Maharashtra.
It must be remembered that the leaders of the BJP, especially PM Modi and Amit Shah face derogatory comments day in and day out. Yet, none of the BJP workers have the gall to go out and shave the heads of such people and thrash them.
Shiv Sena’s tendencies are well known. Now that they are in power, their inherent goondagardi has only been emboldened. Is Maharashtra being thrown back into the days where nobody could speak a word against the Shiv Sena? It definitely seems so. Moreover, being in alliance with the Congress and the NCP, the Sena cannot attempt to harass non-Maharashtrians like it did in the past. Therefore, to vent out their frustration, they are now targeting common people only for the opinions that they hold of the party and its supremo.
As the leader of opposition in the state, Devendra Fadnavis must take up this matter and immediately visit the family and the victim. It must be known to the Sena that their actions are not above question any longer. The BJP must not allow the violent tendencies of Shiv Sena to create mayhem in the state of Maharashtra.