Shiv Sena inches towards alliance by equating Al-Qaeda with Elgar Parishad

A day after the poll strategist, Prashant Kishor met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, in the party mouthpiece, Saamna has toned down its parlance against its ally, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Surprisingly, the Sena praised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent body of BJP, through its editorial on Wednesday. Sena equated Al-Qaeda with Elgar Parishad, was an event held on December 31, 2017 to commemorate the two hundredth anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima.

Slamming those who have supported the Elgar Parishad and activist Professor Anand Teltumbde, Uddhav reminded them, both the outfits are ideologues. He questioned the Pune Sessions court for releasing Teltumbde, and their stance demanding proofs and holding the Pune police guilty.

The Sena president said, “AlQaeda and Elgar Parishad is one and the same. The Al-Qaeda plans is to attack the police, administration and the law. They raise questions over the government, demoralise and incapacitate the administration. Those espousing the Elgar Parishad have the same policy.”

Saamna further said, “Criminals often are acquitted in mass killings, corruption and murders, but it does not mean that they are innocent. Those indulging in show of support of Teltumbde should realise this.” The editorial argues, “Something seriously anti-national is cooking and the police are being termed as accused. This is the beginning of a conspiracy. This is the time when one needs to stand firmly by the police.”

The editorial states, soon after the Pune Sessions court released Teltumbde, a petition was moved in the Bombay High Court for seeking his protection from preventive arrest and the court gave orders not to arrest Teltumbde till February 12. Now the drums are being beaten to project Teltumbde as an international intellectual.

Taking a swipe at the English media for terming Teltumbde as a 'Dalit academician', Sena argued, no one should attribute one's caste, creed to intellectuals and thinkers. “To do that is an insult to one’s brain,” said the editorial.

Al-Qaeda and Elgar Parishad is one and the same. The Al-Qaeda plans to attack the police, administration and the law. They raise questions over the government, demoralise and incapacitate the administration. Those espousing the Elgar Parishad have the same policy. — SHIV SENA PRESIDENT