The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the BJP-led government and the Uttar Pradesh Police, alleging a politically motivated crackdown on activists Muhammad Junaid and Shadab Saifi, who the party claimed organised food and water for protesters during the agitation at Jantar Mantar.

In a sharply worded editorial published in its party mouthpiece, Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party alleged that authorities had targeted Junaid and members of his extended family as part of the investigation into the logistics behind the 35-day protest.