A day after Shiv Sena activists in Kochi ran riot on the city’s Marine Drive by assaulting and chasing away young couples, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday indefinitely suspended the party membership of those involved.
“The incident in Kochi, Kerala is shameful and unnecessary. The party will not shield or endorse such act,” Mr. Thackeray tweeted. “The said persons involved in the act in Kochi, have been immediately suspended from the party membership indefinitely,” he said.
In Kochi, six Sena activists were taken into custody in connection with the incident, which has come in for criticism from the ruling CPI(M) and the Opposition Congress in Kerala.
Action was taken against the perpetrators hours after TV channels aired a video on Wednesday of a group of Shiv Sena activists wielding sticks and chasing away young men and women from Marine Drive. The men took out a procession, and carried flags and banners. One man was heard shouting at and abusing women in the presence of police.
The Yuva Sena, the Shiv Sena’s youth wing, has distanced itself from such controversies since its formation four years ago, with Mr. Thackeray heading it. Since then, the Sena’s opposition to Valentine’s Day celebration has has mellowed.
In October 2016, Shiv Sena workers allegedly threatened the organisers of the Ramleela festival in Uttar Pradesh for casting actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, as he was Muslim. On that occasion, too, Mr. Thackeray had taken to Twitter to say the party does not endorse this view and those who threatened the actor do not belong to his party. He also spoke to Mr. Siddiqui to convey the same.
Though a regional party, the Sena has tried to extend its reach. It is in the process of setting up units in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. However, it has been embarrassed by its activists in these States in the past as well.
( With PTI inputs )
