Shiv Sena has launched a frontal attack on rationalist Dr Shyam Manav, who is spearheading the campaign against controversial Hindu revivalist Sanatan Sanstha whose sadhak (seeker) Sameer Gaikwad has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of CPI leader Govind Pansare.

This comes just after war drums have been sounded for elections to the Kalyan Dombivali municipal corporations to be held on November 1. There is no clarity on whether ruling allies Shiv Sena and BJP will form a coalition for these polls. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis holds charge of the home portfolio.

An editorial on Saturday in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna — which has party president Uddhav Thackeray as the editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut as the executive editor — charged that activists like Manav were keeping mum on rising Islamic terrorism and had never sought a ban on such organisations. Manav has called for the Sanstha to be proscribed.

The Sena also attacked their silence on communally charged speeches by the radical All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and accused activists like Manav of selectively targeting proponents of Hindutva.

"There is a huge list of those who have taken a vow like Afzal Khan to finish off organisations and people who are engaged in spreading the Hindu religion," the editorial alleged, claiming that Manav headed the list at present.

It added that the Sanatan controversy was being used to malign those who were working for the cause of Hindutva. The Shiv Sena also questioned the denial of bail to Malegaon blasts accused Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

Referring to Manav's allegation that if the Sanstha's activities continued unabated, India would turn into Afghanistan, the Sena questioned the silence on Islamic extremists who brainwash youth and send them to Pakistan for terror training.