The dastardly attack on the Navy veteran, Madan Sharma by the goons of Shiv Sena has managed to send shockwaves across the nation. The attack grabbed national headlines and it was expected that it will put Sena on the back foot and apologise to Madan Sharma. However, the party of hooligans that Shiv Sena is, has gone ahead and justified the violence as the party took swipe at Madan Sharma.
Shiv Sena’s version of Global Times, Saamna of which Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray is the Editor which often acts as a platform for the motormouth Sanjay Raut to give his meaningless opinion on things far beyond his intellect, launched an astonishing attack on Navy veteran Madan Sharma. Instead of apologising for the attack by the Sena goons, Saamna taking a swipe at the Sharma said, ‘wasn’t Madan Sharma taught in the Navy to respect a person holding a Constitutional post?’.
The party asked, “Honour the person sitting in the Constitutional post, wasn’t this gentleman taught in the Navy?” Shiv Sena asked. It further sought to question what did Madan Sharma gain by sharing a satirical cartoon on Uddhav Thackeray who “has been elected by the people of the state”. Now, it’s a separate argument that Uddhav Thackeray wasn’t “elected” by the people of Maharashtra, but it is beyond the intellect of the folks running Saamna.
Last week, Madan Sharma paid a heavy price for sharing a cartoon on Uddhav Thackeray on WhatsApp which led to him being assaulted by goons led by Sena leader Kamlesh Kadam. The incident took place in Lokhandwala Complex area in suburban Kandivali. As a result of the assault, Madan Sharma sustained a severe eye injury.
“Eight to ten persons attacked and beat me up today after I received threatening calls for a message that I had forwarded. I have worked for the nation my entire life. A government like this should not exist,” the victim of Sena’s unlawful and shameful crackdown on free speech was quoted as saying by ANI. Meanwhile, all six Shiv Sena goons arrested on grounds of causing grievous injury and rioting have been released on bail.
Being the Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh rightfully called up Sharma and enquired about his health, which didn’t go down well with Shiv Sena as the party pondered whether the navy veteran did “great national work”.
“Will he [Madan Sharma] be given an award now?” Shiv Sena asked. “They speak against the leaders of the state you live in, you earn, live happily, and if someone breaks your face, then they use ‘injustice, oppression, attack on freedom’ to politicise the issue.”
Earlier too, Shiv Sena’s spokesperson, Sanjay Raut attempted to justify the attack by claiming that it was “spontaneous”. The fact that instead of apologising and ending the matter, Shiv Sena chose to take potshots at Madan Sharma, is an attempt to send the people of Maharashtra especially those living in Mumbai a warning: Ridicule their Supreme Leader, Uddhav Thackeray at your own peril.