The apology tendered by Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray over an anti-Maratha cartoon in a party publication was “politically motivated” and “devoid of respect for the agitating community”, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane said yesterday.

Last Saturday, the Sena chief publicly apologised for a cartoon published in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ that sought to lampoon Maratha protests.