Shiv Sena extends a helping hand to Kashmiri Pandits as it prepares to showcase its brand of Hindutva

Three decades after Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray offered assistance to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the party headed by his son and the state’s current chief minister has taken a similar outreach initiative. However, this time, the objective is also to steal a march on its former saffron ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the battle for Hindutva.

Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the three-party coalition government in Maharashtra, on Saturday expressed concern over the ‘targeted killings’ in Kashmir and extended support to the Pandits. If some Sena leaders are to be believed, the government is contemplating several measures, including quota in education and jobs, and sops to set up businesses in the state.

Sena chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who was in Ayodhya on Monday, said the relations between the party and Kashmiri Pandits had been strong after Bal Thackeray’s gesture in the 1990s.

“Uddhav Thackeray has expressed concern over the killings and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley. Not just Kashmiri Pandits but our Muslim brothers in the security forces have also been targeted by terrorists. Uddhav ji has announced that the state government and Sena will do whatever is possible for the Kashmiri Pandits and their families. A plan is being worked out in this regard,” Raut said.

A Sena minister, who did not want to be named, said they had planned to provide reservation in education to Kashmiri students like the Sena-BJP government had done in 1995.

“We can also look at a quota in jobs, after discussions with all stakeholders and the state industries department. Our efforts would be to help them start their life in Maharashtra. So, instead of any one-time monetary assistance, sops in setting up businesses, which would also help create employment, could be offered,” he said.

State higher and technical education minister Uday Samant said, “If the Kashmiri Pandits want to come to Maharashtra and study, we will have a quota so that there is no injustice to those who want to build their career.”

Sena is also seeking to point out how its Hindutva is different from that of BJP.

Raut claimed BJP merely used the Kashmiri Pandits as a poll agenda. “Only one government and one man, Uddhav Thackeray, announced that if Kashmiri Pandits wanted to come and live in Maharashtra, then the government would protect them and extend full support. We would have been happy if a BJP leader had said this, but they merely want to play politics on the issue of Kashmir.”

Furthering the attack, Raut asked if BJP endorsed the statement of its former MLA from UP Baldev Raj Sharma that the incidents in Kashmir were “small”. “Is it a small incident that terrorists are gunning down people in Kashmir? So far, around 5,000 Kashmiris have left the valley, is it a small incident? BJP must clarify if it endorses the statement of its leader... In the last three months, 27 Kashmiri Pandits have been killed and 17 police personnel have been martyred. What is happening? The language that BJP is using is not in line with the national unity.”

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Monday said while the people of the country were suffering due to various problems, the king of the country was celebrating the completion of his eight years in power.

“Thackeray has shown his 56-inch chest and heart towards Hindus by saying that Maharashtra will support the Kashmiri Pandits,” it said.

Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said Thackeray was using the Kashmir issue to divert the attention of people from the failure of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

“The state is attempting to divert attention from its issues by showing false compassion for Kashmiri Pandits and targeting the Centre. Several issues have plagued Maharashtra in the last two-and-a-half years. Thousands of families have been affected due to Covid-19, but some ministers were extorting money with the help of police. The farmers in the state are facing severe challenges. The chief minister has deserted all of them, and is now attempting to divert the attention by poking his nose in the Kashmir issue, which is a sensitive issue for the country,” he said.

Political analyst Hemant Desai said Sena’s attack on BJP was to emphasise its Hindutva brand. “The move by Sena on the issue of Kashmiri Pandits is to be viewed as the Hindutva agenda in the backdrop of the coming local body elections. Sena got the opportunity to target BJP and it is using it. The population of Kashmiri Pandits is minuscule in Maharashtra. So, it is not going to be an advantage in an election, but overall, it is to show that they are more concerned about Hindus than the BJP is.”

The Sena MP along with minister Eknath Shinde was in Ayodhya to chalk out environment minister Aaditya Thackeray’s visit on June 15.

Raut, however, dismissed that Aaditya’s visit was another attempt to emphasise the party’s Hindutva agenda. “It is a matter of faith and belief in lord Ram. Aaditya ji will visit Ayodhya for a day, but our aim is not to put up a show of strength.”

The Sena chief has gone on the offensive against BJP after the Hanuman Chalisa row and the loudspeaker issue in April and May put it on the back foot. Besides, it has already been facing questions over its Hindutva credential after it joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress in November 2019 to form government.

While BJP and the Sangh Parivar are being accused of whipping up a communal frenzy over the Gyanvapi mosque issue, Thackeray has prepared a plan for the restoration of ancient temples in Maharashtra, which are in bad shape.