Following the brouhaha, Sena issued a clarification that a cartoon should only be looked at as a cartoon, but other parties have refused to accept the justification
The tweet by Nitesh Rane that set off the opposition storm
It’s a rare sight when Shiv Sena and the Maratha man are at odds. However, a recent cartoon published in the party mouthpiece Saamana on Sunday has triggered negative reactions from the community, to the extent that despite a clarification on Tuesday, the newspaper offices in Thane and Navi Mumbai were pelted with stones and attacked with ink in the afternoon. The extreme reaction follows the initial outrage over the social media, led by former Sena man Narayan Rane’s son Nitesh, on the cartoon mocking the ongoing statewide Maratha community reservation protests.
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Nitesh Rane rejected the clarification (right) Ashish Shelar has also criticised Sena
A journalist with Saamana said, “Two separate incidents happened in the afternoon. At the Navi Mumbai office, there was stone pelting where windows were damaged. Meanwhile, at Thane, some four-five people tried to barge into the office and threw ink at the door. As a precautionary measure, the Mumbai office’s security was also beefed up.”
What’s the fuss about?
In the cartoon published on Sunday, a man was sketched kissing a woman with text that read, ‘Muka Morcha’ (a double meaning word implying either ‘silence’ or ‘kiss’, depending on interpretation).
Following the publication, Nitesh, Congress MLA from Kankavli, who is also part of the Maratha community, said, “The Saamana says ‘look at the cartoon like it is a cartoon’. But had the same been portrayed about women from their community, would have they tolerated the same?”
Other leaders from Congress and NCP also targeted the Sena over the issue. State Congress president, Ashok Chavan, said, “It’s shameful of Saamana that insulted women. They have made fun of an important issue concerning the Maratha community.”
Even BJP city president Ashish Shelar indulged in mud-slinging and said that Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana, was a cartoon himself and asked him to publicly apologise for hurting the Maratha sentiments.
Police says
Navi Mumbai police commissioner, Hemant Nagrale said, “Incident of stone pelting had occurred at the Saamana office in Sanpada. Offence has been registered under sections 336 (Act endangering life of others), 427 (Mischief causing damage) of the IPC against four persons, all office bearers of Sambhaji brigade. The damage to the two properties has been estimated to be around Rs 30,000 and investigations in the matter are underway. The accused will be arrested soon.”
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