Shinde Sena retaliates to NCP’s charge, threatens to take legal action against those defaming party

Protesters had pelted stones at Abdul Sattar’s residence near Mantralaya on Monday. Pic/Ashish Raje

After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule moved the national and state women's commissions against the abusive language Maharashtra minister Abdul Sattar used against her, the Shinde Sena posed many a question to her. Its members also prepared to sue politicians who have been accusing them of receiving money to the tune of Rs 50-cr each to form the government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sattar is accused of using unparliamentary words while responding to Sule's allegations of him and his colleagues getting bribed to topple the MVA government. NCP workers pelted stones at his official residence in Mumbai and attacked his private bungalow in Aurangabad on Monday. NCP leaders and their MVA colleagues had demanded the minister's sacking. Following a row and aggression on the streets, Sattar apologised, but not without threatening in equally strong words, to take on his accusers.

Also read: Mumbai: NCP workers protest against Abdul Sattar over his alleged comments against MP Supriya Sule; he expresses regret

On Monday, Sule sent a complaint to the state and national women's commissions seeking action against Sattar. She said Sattar's behaviour was not in sync with Maharashtra's culture. State NCP President Jayant Patil led a party delegation to governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari asking him to sack Sattar. Thackeray-led Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray held the chief minister and deputy chief minister responsible and demanded the minister's removal.

The Shinde Sena has apologised for Sattar's act on Monday, but when it saw the matter escalated, it demanded action against the people who have been accusing the Shiv Sena rebels of getting ‘50 khoke' - Rs 50-cr each. "Did Ajit Pawar get money for his swearing-in (with the BJP) in 2019? How much did Sharad Pawar give MLAs for toppling the Congress government in 1978? How much did Sharad Pawar give when he split the Congress in 1999? Can Supriyatai ask them and tell us?" asked Vijay Shivtare, former minister and Shinde Sena leader at a press conference on Tuesday. He said the accusers who had no evidence and yet defamed Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena MLAs, will be sued hence forth.