Uddhav Thackeray Uddhav Thackeray

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has extended its support to Sanatan Sanstha, the radical Hindu organisation in news these days following the arrest of its member Sameer Gaikwad in connection with the murder of a top rationalist of Maharashtra.

In the latest editorial of Saamana, the Sena described late rationalist Govind Pansare as a “dharma virodhi” (anti-religious) even as it glorified the work of Sanatan Sanstha.

The unabashed support has shocked many, including the family of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, who have termed the Sena support to the right- wing organisation “dangerous for democracy”. The Congress and the NCP have also condemned the Sena.

Ridiculing those demanding a ban on Sanatan Sanstha, the editorial further said, “The police have arrested a youth Sameer Gaikwad in connection with the murder of Govind Pansare. Gaikwad is a ‘sadhak’ of Sanatan Sanstha. Demands are being made that he is involved in several religious and spiritual activities of Sanatan Sanstha and, therefore, should be hanged without probe. All this is laughable.”

However, the editorail goes on to condemn Pansare’s murder. “We might not agree with Pansare, but the murder of any elderly individual in Maharashtra is highly condemnable,” the editorial said.

The editorial also highlights a paragraph: “The investigation in Pansare murder concentrated only on Sanatan Sanstha or those associated with Hindu organisation and an atmosphere was created so that investigators probe only in this direction. This could be said to be the success of the real murderers of Pansare and Dabholkar…Catch the real perpetrators but don’t defame Hindutva.”

The Dabholkar family has asked political parties to be sensible before they try to extend support to organisations which attack at the “very root of our democracy”.

Hamid Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, said, “Political parties should think deep before they back organisations who believe in violent ways of expressing their thoughts and ideas… This is dangerous for democracy.”

“In a state where the ideals and principles of Phule-Shahu-Ambedkar and Prabodhankar Thackeray are followed by the masses, it is not appropriate to support violent organisations or ideas,” he added.

Expressing “surprise” at the Sena stand, the Congress said, “As part of the government are you extending support to an organisation which has a history of propogating violence and indulging in violence?”

“When you are in the government, you have to uphold democratic norms and not support violence… The Sena stand is, therefore, highly condemnable,” said state Congress chief Ashok Chavan, who had last week pressed for a ban on Sanatan Sanstha.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malick said the Sena should first “properly study” the antecedents of Sanatan Sanstha and then comment.

The BJP, however, played cautiously. Party spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, “The Sena’s views are its own…we don’t want to offer any comment.

Regarding the demand on banning Sanatan Sanstha, he said, “Everything will happen as per law.”

Following the wisdespread criticism of its stand on the radical organisation, Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe refused to comment when contacted. “Don’t ask me about this…” was all she said. Other Sena leaders also refused to comment.

However, off the record, some Sena leaders conceded that the party’s stand was not appropriate especially when “the ordinary man on the street and the intelligentsia of the progressive Maharashtra were shocked at the murders of the rationalists”.

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