Sarpotdar’s only crime was saying Vande Mataram: Sena

Describing Sarpotdar as a veteran of Shiv Sena, Thackeray said his persecution was a result of a pseudo-secularism practiced by the country’s politicians.

He said riots and bomb blasts could not be justified but those who engineered riots on the streets of Mumbai in the aftermath of demolition of Babri mosque were raising slogans of Pakistan Zindabad and all that Shiv Sena did was to counter these Pro-Pakstani elements to protect Hindus in the metropolis.

Shrikant Bapat, the then police commissioner of Mumbai too had been targeted by Muslim rioters. When the culprits were sought to be booked, Muslim organisations pressured the Congress government to remove Bapat from the post, he has alleged.

At least ten policemen were mercilessly killed in Muslim localities but those involved in the crime went scot-free, the editorial added.

The 1993-riots were pre-planned to target Hindus after demolition of the Babri mosque and Shiv Sena stood in defence of Hindus raising the slogan Vande Mataram, it said.

Thackeray said the decision of court has to be respected and it is binding on all Hindus.

In a sarcastic comment, the editorial said if patriots are punished and traitors are spared, the day when Afzal Guru, the kingpin in the attack on the Parliament, would become the Prime Minister of India is not far.