Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on October 7, 1997
PPS blitzkrieg against Sena
CHOWK RAIGAD, Oct 6: The ruling Shiv Sena has been told to mend its ways or face the consequences of unleashing goondaism', by the Patit...
Written by Anosh Malekar
October 7, 1997 12:00 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
CHOWK RAIGAD, Oct 6: The ruling Shiv Sena has been told to mend its ways or face the consequences of unleashing goondaism8217;, by the Patit Pawan Sanghatana PPS, a militant organisation in the Hindutva brotherhood.
Provoked by the murder of its Raigad unit chief Arun Airye, allegedly by Sena MLA from Khalapur, Devendra Satam, and his supporters, last August, the PPS men have masterminded a blitzkrieg of sorts against the Shiv Sena8217;s brand of Shivshahi.8217;
At its rabble-rousing best, at least 10,000 PPS activists arrived in truckloads here today afternoon from Pune city, neighbouring Daund and Indapur tehsils. The PPS convoy then crisscrossed the district, holding protest meetings at Mohapada, Karjat, Neral and Khopoli, starting here. The main demand was for Sena chief Bal Thackeray to kick out8217; Satam, currently in judicial custody, from the party. The PPS warned an extensive post-Divali stir if the Sena chief did not yield.
PPS State unit chief Sopanrao Deshmukh condemned the murder Satam, who he stressed was a grass-roots activist nurtured on the radical Hinduism8217; propagated by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS in Shivshahi8217;. The Sena men, who committed the murder, have lost the moral authority to align with the saffron flag, thundered general secretary Nitin Sontakke.
Calling the PPS as the rightful inheritors of Dr Hegdewar8217;s legacy, co-convenor Sandeep Khardekar averred that they had played a major role in ushering in the saffron alliance rule in Maharashtra and would not hesitate to destroy the Sena if it feels things were going out of hand.
Participants from The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP cadres of this district echoed the threat. Raigad unit chief Sanjay Konkar warned attackers8217; of any parivar member to give up their goondaism.
Khardekar told The Indian Express that the police had been urging them to play down their protests to avoid a possible clash with the Sena men.
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