From roaring against Kashmir separatism to defending it, Shiv Sena has sold off its soul

The party once known for its nationalist and patriotic approach, which has dreamt about the idea of ‘Akhand Bharat’, is now behaving like a headless chicken by defying all the ideological barriers, openly supporting the Kashmiri separatism. Shiv Sena has visibly mocked its own previous stand on Kashmir when senior party leader Sanjay Raut defended the Free Kashmir poster which was on display during protest at the Gateway of India against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) violence.

Defending the poster, Sanjay Raut said the poster talked about freedom from restrictions imposed on the people of Kashmir and not about its freedom from India.

“I read in newspaper that those who held ‘free Kashmir’ banner clarified that they want to be free of restrictions on internet services, mobile services and other issues. Also, if anyone talks of freedom of Kashmir from India then it will not be tolerated,” Raut told news agency ANI.

Notably, amid outrage in several Maharashtra universities over JNU violence, posters reading ‘Free Kashmir’ had sprung up at Mumbai’s Gateway of India, drawing sharp reaction from former CM Devendra Fadnavis. He slammed the state government on Twitter and said, “Protest is for what exactly? Why slogans of “Free Kashmir”? How can we tolerate such separatist elements in Mumbai? ‘Free Kashmir’ slogans by Azadi gang at 2km from CMO? Uddhav ji are you going to tolerate this Free Kashmir Anti India campaign right under your nose???”

In an attempt to save the face of the party, Sanjay Raut, was quick to add that if the poster meant Kashmir seeking freedom from India, “it will not be tolerated”. The soft posture of Shiv Sena over this kind of act, which clearly implies separatism, is deplorable citing its own record of being tough over the issues relating to the nation.

Times Now has also reported that Thackeray scion Aditya Thackeray has backed the Free Kashmir poster saying no action should be taken against the protester.

It must be highlighted here that Shiv Sena cheered amusingly for the central government when it had scrapped the Article 370. Then the Shiv Sena had said that the revocation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir was just the beginning and the final aim was to implement a uniform civil code in the country and unfurl the Tricolour in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), The Indian Express had reported. In an editorial published in the party’s mouthpiece Saamna, the party had even hailed the country’s leadership for taking bold decisions. Party chief Uddhav had said, “Centre’s move is fulfilment of the dream of Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray and BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He had also asked the opposition parties to “leave aside their political shoes” and “support sovereignty of India.”

Ideologically Shiv Sena has converted itself to another Congress, from urging to ‘support sovereignty of India’ to supporting separatism, the party has betrayed its own ideology. With this kind of acts, it is mocking the mandate of the people, who had voted for a nationalist alliance and got separatist- sympathisers.