Shiv Sena also comes out in Kejriwal's support
Mumbai, June 18: Maharashtra's ruling Shiv Sena on Monday came out in support of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his agitation, days after four non-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled states also endorsed his AAP's stand.
On Sunday, Kejriwal spoke to Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on the issue where Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking directions from Lt. Governor Anil Baijal to the IAS officers to end their undeclared strike and other demands, a Sena leader said.
"Uddhavji informed him what the late Bal Thackeray used to say, that any political party which gets overwhelming majority has the right to work and take policy decisions, whether it's the government in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim or Delhi," party spokeserspon Sanjay Raut told the media.
On Saturday, Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), N. Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala) and H.D. Kumaraswamy (Karnataka) held a join press conference in support of the AAP and Kejriwal. They subsequently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought his intervention in the issue.
BJP MP and former Bollywood star Shatrughan Sinha has also expressed support to Kejriwal and urged Modi's intervention to resolve the crisis in Delhi.
Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, have been staging a sit-in protest at the Delhi Raj Niwas since June 11. Sisodia and Jain, who also started a hunger strike, have subsequently been hospitalised after their condition deteriorated.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
