In two separate incidents in Jalgaon, Shiv Sena goons were seen thrashing common citizens for putting up ‘offensive’ posts against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiv Sena members attacked a person in a crowded chowk and made him apologize with folded hands alleging he had shared an offensive post. The entire incident was filmed and the video subsequently went viral as per a March 24 report by TV9Marathi. The report noted that an alleged offensive post criticizing Uddhav Thackeray went viral on social media. Following this, Sainiks tracked down the person from whose mobile the message was first sent.
The man was reportedly brought to the crowded chowk where the hooligans went on to thrash him even as bystanders attempted to free the man. However, the sainiks also threatened those who tried to save the man. The entire incident went on for half-hour despite the fact that the man had apologized with folded hands right at the start. He had clarified that it was his child who had forwarded the message as he thought it was some cartoon.
Even though the man apologized, Shiv Sena members slapped him 3-4 times more and made him tender an apology before the camera as they recorded the entire video on their mobiles. He was instructed how and to who he must apologize. The man was made to ask forgiveness of CM Uddhav Thackeray and Minister Gulabrao Patil.
In another video shared on Twitter, Shiv Sena hooligans are seen confronting a man outside a mall in Jalgaon. The party members including women then go on to hit the man for supposedly putting up a post on Facebook criticizing Uddhav Thackeray.
Power seems to have gone to the heads of Shiv Sainiks who have been repeatedly indulging in such acts of hooliganism. Sena goons had assaulted a Navy veteran for simply forwarding a message on WhatsApp, then MVA minister Jitendra Awhad had Thane resident Anant Karmuse abducted and beaten black and blue for an alleged offensive Facebook post, BJP leader Satish Katekar was assaulted publicly by Sena goons in Pandharpur for criticizing Uddhav Thackeray last year. These are just some of the instances of hooliganism Maharashtra has witnessed ever since MVA gained a back-door entry to form the government in the state.
In August last year, two BJP leaders, one of whom is a union minister, were assaulted by Shiv Sena hooligans. Within the span of a week, Kirit Somaiya was attacked allegedly by Sena goons, and Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested in a highhanded manner by the Ratnagiri police.
It appears that both political opponents and common citizens aren’t safe in Maharashtra under Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi). The state has not only been suffering from misgovernance but is also witnessing rising instances of hooliganism.
(Featured Image Source: TV9 Marathi & Political Kida)
