MUMBAI: A day after it drew nationwide condemnation for force-feeding a fasting Muslim, the Shiv Sena on Thursday alleged that the Parliamentarians and the media overlooked incidents where Muslims raped in the holy month of Ramadan.
An editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna stated: “The media which is heating up the issue and the Parliamentarians who are raising their voice see our act but don’t see the rape of a 10-year-old girl by the ‘maulavi’ of a mosque in Afghanistan, that too in the auspicious month of Ramadan. Neither is the media speaking about this issue, nor is the issue raised in Parliament. Recently, a Muslim teacher in Bangalore raped a schoolgirl even while fasting, but the media is not speaking about this. This simply shows that rape is okay and chapati feeding isn’t.”
“Shiv Sena respects all religions and this is what we believe in. We don’t have to do anything until someone misuses religion to create a ruckus. Everyone should practise his or her religion at home and in the heart,” it added.
Meanwhile, party chief Uddhav Thackeray has demanded dismissal of the Resident Commissioner of New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, Bipin Malik, for allegedly providing poor quality services and food to the MPs from the state.
However, while criticising the Shiv Sena MPs, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said MP Rajan Vichare should be let off without punishment, saying that he had apologised for the incident.