Shiv Sena to protest at the Chief Minister’s residence — Varsha

The Shiv Sena is still not willing to withdraw its stand against the police action against their party cadre in Ahmednagar. Sena leaders with party cadre will sit on a dharna outside Varsha, the official residence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis today.

Sena is protesting the First Information Report (FIR) that has been filed by the police against 600 Shiv Saniks in Ahmednagar after they sent on a rampage over the murder of two party workers. In support of these Sena leaders, Uddhav Thackeray, president of the party refused to meet Sudhir Mungantiwar, minister for finance and planning on Monday.

Ramdas Kadam. Minister for environment and Eknath Shinde, minister of Public Works Department (Government undertaking) attended rituals of Sanjay Kotkar and Vasat Thube at Kedgaon in Ahmednagar on Monday. The Ahmednagar police has filed FIR against 600 Shiv Sainiks who had staged protest after murder of party leaders. Thackeray has demanded that the police remove the cases against the Shiv Sainiks as they are not accused. Kadam said the party president has instructed that cadre stage protest at Varsha if FIR is not revoked.

A delegation of Sena ministers on last Tuesday met Fadnavis and demanded that strict action being taken against Shivaji Kardile, legislator of Bharatiya Janata Party, and he be removed from the party. Fadnavis though refused to accept their demand. Fadnavis had also told the delegation after that a proper probe, FIR against Shiv Sainiks would be withdrawn. However, even after ten days, the FIR has still not been withdrawn.

As Thackeray instructed, all 600 shiv sainiks from Ahmednagar will gather before Varsha in the morning of Tuesday to stage protest.

Meanwhile, Mungantiwar called Thackeray for a meeting to discuss on whether monsoon session should be hold at Nagpur. Mungantiwar also wanted to initiate dialogue with Thackeray over alliance for next parliamentary and assembly polls. However, Thackeray refused to meet Mungantiwar. Later while speaking with media persons, Mungantiwar said if Sena wants to go solo in next election, BJP will also go alone. “There is no compulsion on BJP for alliance with Sena,” said the minister. Thackeray had already announced that his party would go solo in any elections in the future.

In support of the 600 Sena workers against whom an FIR has been filed in Ahmednagar, party chief Uddhav Thackeray refused to meet Sudhir Mungantiwar, minister for finance and planning, on Monday.