07, Jul 2015

Unchecked Muslim population could break India’s unity, reads editorial in Sena mouthpiece
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena seems to have revived its aggressive Hindutva posturing over the past few months, trying to goad alliance partner BJP into reacting while reappropriating the political stance that its founder, the late Bal Thackeray, had adopted for political gains in the 1980s.
On Monday, through an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna – seen as reflecting the views of its chief, Uddhav Thackeray – the party criticised the increase in the Muslim population and dared the Narendra Modi government to introduce population control rules and a uniform civil code.
Last week, it had strongly opposed a Bombay High Court order relating to the worship of idols in public places and the setting up of temporary pandals for festivals such as dahi handi, Navratri and Ganeshotsav on public roads. The Shiv Sena retorted by asking why this shouldn’t apply to Muslims celebrating Eid with loudspeakers as well.