Shiv Sena continues to target ex-Navy man

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena, a partner in the state government, has decided to be aggressive in case anyone targets Matoshree and the party president, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, said transport minister Anil Parab on Monday. The Sena leader said Matoshree is “like God” to party workers and they will react if their chief is targeted, while referring to the cartoon on Thackeray shared by retired naval officer Madan Sharma.
Sena mouthpiece Saamna, too, criticized Sharma even as it condemned the assault on him. While Parab also insisted the party does not support the attack, he said, “Just because he (Sharma) is a retired naval officer, can he comment on anything or do anything he wants? Who has given him the right to do so? He should not have crossed the line and party workers should not have too. Since we are in power, it does not mean anyone can insult our leader. Such acts won’t be tolerated and our party workers will react,” said Parab.
The Sena mouthpiece said, “What has he gained by circulating an offensive cartoon related to CM Thackeray? Hence, one should not cry about injustice being done to them or over an attack on freedom if one is beaten up for making offensive comments on leaders of the state where one earns and lives happily.”