Shiv Sena ‘ blacks out’ Modi event in Mumbai

Shiv Sena leaders and workers, angered by their leader’s exclusion, attempted to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi with black flags when he was on his way to lay the foundation stone for the proposed greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray was not invited for the ceremony despite being an alliance partner of the BJP in the state as well as at the Centre.

The Shiv Sena’s sampark pramukh of North Raigad, Sanjay More, led the protest along with local leaders.

“We are happy that the Navi Mumbai airport has advanced to the next stage after such a long struggle. But there was no reason to exclude Mr Thackeray. The Sena has never indulged in politics when it comes to developmental issues, unlike the BJP. By showing black flags at such a dictatorial attitude, we have registered our protest,” said Mr More. Mr More, Raigad district Sena chief Baban Patil, MLA Manohar Bhoir and other local leaders, were detained by the Raigad police for their protest for approximately two hours.

Apart from Mr Modi, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister for transport Nitin Gadkari and aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju were presiding over the function. The guardian minister of Raigad, Ravindra Chavan, and MLA Prashant Thakur were also present on the dais.

There was no reason to exclude Mr Thackeray. The Sena has never indulged in politics when it comes to developmental issues, unlike the BJP.

— Sanjay More,

Sena leader