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Journalism of Courage
With Raj Thackerays MNS stealing its thunder yet again,the Shiv Sena on Monday found itself in the backseat in the House. When MNS legislators tried to prevent SPs Abu Azmi from taking oath in Hindi and attacked him physically,the Sena MLAs seemed too stunned to respond immediately.
Initially,the Sena did not want to support the MNS or criticise it. After watching the pandemonium for some time the Sena MLAs started sloganeering against Azmi,with Jogeshwari East MLA Ravindra Waikar and others holding aloft pro-Marathi placards.
But he said the MNS was wrong in manhandling Azmi in the House. How can one justify the violence in the House?
Desai added that though the MNS stance regarding the need for legislators to take oath in Marathi was right,the MNS legislators had not objected when Congress MLAs Amin Patel and Rameshsingh Thakur took oath in Hindi and Baba Siddiqui chose English to be sworn in.
Basically,the state Assembly rule must be challenged, said Desai,adding that it was not possible for the Sena to rush to the defence of the MNS in the House as they had not been taken into confidence. They have committed hara kiri, said Desai,adding that Sena had a much larger social,cultural and economic agenda for the Maharashtrians.
Meanwhile,the MNS slammed the Shiv Sena for not supporting its stand over Marathi and being mute spectators to the entire episode. It is extremely sad that the opposition party which pledges of its fight for Marathi language and people,stayed mum during the entire process. Marathi people will show them their place, said MNS leader in the House Bala Nandgaonkar.
