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India for Hindus first, others later: says Shiv Sena in Saamana editorial

Published

9 years ago

on

Uddhav-Thackeray

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Statement comes days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat claimed that Hindustan is a country of Hindus but belongs to others too if they adopt Indian culture

Days after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat reiterated his ‘Hindustan is for Hindus’ remark and asserted that “others” who adopt Indian culture are also welcome in the country, the Shiv Sena decided to qualify the Sangh chief’s remark, on Monday, by stating that Hindus have the first claim to India and “others” must be stacked lower in the pecking order.

“The RSS chief says like Hindus, India belongs to others as well. The Shiv Sena chief says India belongs to Hindus first and others later, because there are more than 50 countries for Muslims,” the Sena said in an editorial that appeared in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had, on Friday, said in Indore that ‘Hindustan’ is a country of Hindus, but it does not mean that it does not belong to “others”.

The Saamana editorial comes at a time when the alliance between the Shiv Sena and RSS progeny – the BJP – is on shaky ground with the leadership of both sides acknowledging, albeit unofficially, of an increasing trust deficit in the decades-old coalition.

In recent months, the Shiv Sena has become openly critical of the BJP and its leadership, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his close aide Sanjay Raut have openly hit out at Modi on key decisions taken by the central government – demonetisation and GST being just two of them – and talking of the Prime Minister’s waning popularity.

However, the Saamana editorial – seen in political circles as an official view of the Shiv Sena on critical issues – now seeks to hit out not just at the BJP but even the RSS and its chief, a move that can be perceived as the Maharashtra-based parties attempt at testing how far it can flex its muscles with the senior alliance partner.

Taking on Bhagwat, the Saamana editorial states: “Christians have countries like America and (in) Europe. Buddhists have China, Japan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Hindus do not have any country except this.”

The editorial also makes a point to criticise the Modi government over its attempts – or as the Sena thinks, the lack of them – to implement the communally divisive Hindutva agenda – an ideological thread that had brought the BJP and Shiv Sena together nearly three decades ago.

“Today there is a pro-Hindutva majority government in power. Yet, it is not willing to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya and has left its future in the hands of the court,” the Saamana editorial says, adding: “Despite a pro-Hindutva government, the ghar wapsi of Kashmiri Pandits hasn’t taken place.”

The construction of a Ram Temple at the site where the Babri Masjid stood in Ayodhya before its demolition by RSS-BJP workers in 1992 has been a common agenda of the BJP and Shiv Sena, much like the politically and communally sensitive issue of rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley.

Ever since the Modi government came to power in May 2014, the pro-Hindutva forces – BJP and Shiv Sena, among others – have revived the issue of construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. However, since the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi title suit is pending before the Supreme Court (scheduled to be heard from December 5 onwards), the political claims of getting the temple built have been restricted to rhetoric and not actual implementation of the ground.

The Saamana editorial also touched upon another contentious issue – the ongoing debate over playing Vande Mataram and the national anthem in public places.

“A stubborn attitude prevails towards singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ despite the president and the prime minister belonging to the “thought process of the RSS”, and some also do not find it appropriate to stand up while the national anthem is being played,” the Sena editorial said.

“If these ‘others’ are insulting the national anthem by not standing up, the RSS chief should guide the pro-Hindutva government on what stand it should take against them,” the editorial said further.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Shehzad Poonawalla steps down from BJP, says personal and financial pressures led to decision 

Shehzad Poonawalla has resigned from the BJP, citing pressing financial and personal circumstances, and said he will move to the private sector.

Published

21 mins ago

on

August 17, 2026

By

Shehzad Punawalla

Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday resigned from the BJP, citing what he described as pressing financial and personal circumstances.

The BJP’s national spokesperson said he had first submitted his resignation on July 30. However, the party did not accept it at the time and asked him to reconsider his decision.

Poonawalla has now reiterated his decision to step down as the BJP’s national spokesperson and relinquish his primary membership of the party.

In his resignation letter to BJP president Nitin Nabin, Poonawalla said that after “long and hard contemplation”, he had decided to seek relief from his organisational responsibilities and active primary membership.

He also referred to developments involving certain individuals in recent days, saying they had reinforced his earlier decision. He did not name anyone in his letter.

Shehzad Poonawalla thanks BJP leadership

Poonawalla said he was touched that the BJP had initially declined to accept his resignation and expressed gratitude towards the party leadership.

He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Nitin Nabin, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh for the platform and opportunities he received during his five years with the party.

Poonawalla said his decision to leave was not driven by any sense of hurt and described his sentiments towards the party leadership with “gratefulness, love, affection, and highest regard”.

He said that his decision was linked to pressing financial and personal circumstances and that he would move into the private sector.

At the same time, Poonawalla said he would continue to support Prime Minister Modi’s vision and work, as well as that of the BJP, wherever possible.

“I am only leaving the Vyavastha not the Vyakti or Vichar,” he said.

Shehzad Poonawalla’s political journey

A lawyer, Poonawalla began his political career with the Congress before later joining the BJP.

He came into prominence in 2017 after publicly questioning the Congress’s internal election process. He alleged that the process was rigged in favour of Rahul Gandhi for the post of party president.

Poonawalla subsequently left the Congress and joined the BJP, where he became one of the party’s prominent representatives in television debates.

On July 30, he had also changed his bio on X, removing the reference to himself as “BJP National Spokesperson” while retaining his description as a lifelong follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Bihar temple stampede leaves 7 dead amid heavy Sawan rush

Seven devotees were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident at Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai during the Sawan rush.

Published

43 mins ago

on

August 17, 2026

By

At least seven devotees were killed and several others injured in a stampede-like incident outside the Ashok Dham Temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district on Monday. The incident occurred amid a heavy rush of worshippers on the third Monday of the Sawan month.

Officials said panic may have spread after an electric pole collapsed near the queues, with rumours circulating that a live wire had fallen into the crowd. Authorities later said the fallen wire was a cable.

Crowd surge triggers chaos at temple

Lakhisarai District Magistrate Shailendra Kumar said an unprecedented surge in the number of devotees was further intensified by the arrival of two trains around 6.30-6.45 am.

According to the district magistrate, a barricade outside the temple broke under the pressure of the crowd, causing people to fall over one another.

He said arrangements had been made in anticipation of a large gathering, while police and administrative personnel had been monitoring the area since around 3 am.

Electric pole collapse sparks panic

Kumar said an electric pole on the right side of the men’s queue suddenly fell. A rumour then spread that a live electric wire had fallen on devotees.

He said the wire was actually a cable, but the rumour caused pressure to build in the women’s queue on the other side. Several women subsequently fell on top of one another.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Shivam Kumar said preliminary information indicated that an electric pole had fallen and that people may have been electrocuted, leading to the stampede-like situation.

However, he said the exact cause would be established only after a detailed verification of the facts.

Rescue operations launched

Following the incident, police and administrative teams reached the temple and began rescue operations. The injured devotees were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as extremely tragic and directed the administration to ensure proper and prompt medical treatment for those injured.

The Chief Minister also announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of each person who died.

Ashok Dham Temple draws Sawan crowds

The Ashok Dham Temple, also known as Shri Indradamaneshwar Mahadev Temple, houses a large Shivalinga and attracts a significant number of devotees during Sawan.

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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