A day after the controversy over the misconduct of Shiv Sena men at Maharashtra Sadan erupted, the building remained woefully dry for news persons. As the Sena and the Congress traded charges in Maharashtra, officers of the State in Delhi were tight lipped. An inquiry, ordered by Chief Secretary JS Saharia is under way. Resident Commissioner Bipin Mallick also maintained a dignified silence over a demand by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray that the former be removed.
Demonstrations against the Sena MPs gathered steam as activists of the Social Democratic Party of India and the United Muslim Front protested in front of the old Maharashtra Sadan. Ironically, they mistakenly staged the demonstration in front of the old Maharashtra Sadan in Sangli Plot on Copernicus Marg. This is less than a kilometre away from Maharashtra Sadan, which the Marathi press uses as a base camp. The 40-odd activists didn’t have to wait long before the press arrived after which they attempted to mount the barricades, unsuccessfully. They dispersed without violence.
The Youth Congress held a larger demonstration in front of Rail Bhavan demanding the suspension of Sena MP Rajan Vichare who attempted to force-feed a fasting Muslim staffer at the Sadan on July 17.
