The Shiv Sena has distanced itself from the editorial demanding a ban on burqa that appeared in its mouthpiece Saamna on Wednesday, but the damage has been done. The Muslim cadre in the party are deeply unhappy with the editorial and have written to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray voicing their disappointment.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who is the editor of Saamna, in the editorial, had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the burqa after Sri Lanka banned face coverings post the recent terror attacks in that country. The president of Maharashtra Security Kamgaar Sena, Intekhab Farooqui, has written a letter to party Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, disagreeing with the editorial, and displaying his disappointment with Rajya Sabha MP Raut's stand.