The caricature which has published in its mouthpiece Saamana, has irked the Maratha community in the state and the party his facing a harsh criticism for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Maratha community.

Although party’s spokesperson Harshal Paradhan has denied that the Party MPs, legislators or the office bearers have resigned, many party leaders from Buldhana district has threatened to resign over the unhappiness with the disrespect to the Marathas in the cartoon.

The Maratha community is unhappy over the caricature published in Saamana which shows a three-paneled cartoon on Sunday showing different types of protesters, including a man kissing a woman, playing on the words ‘muk morcha’ (silent protests) as ‘muka morcha’ (kissing protests).

The source said, “The three leaders are ready to offer resignations, while two other legislators are considering it too. The Sena has certain traditions and they don’t want to take a step without first discussing it with party president Uddhav Thackeray.”

One of the Sena’s foot soldiers, Bhaskarrao Bhange, who is also the party’s deputy chief for the Karmala taluka in Solapur, wrote to the party district head, “I condemn the cartoon published in the September 25 edition of Saamana. I am stepping down from my post. If Shiv Sena needs votes of Marathas, then Uddhav Thackeray should immediately clarify his position on the Maratha protests. Otherwise, one by one, all Maratha Shiv Sainiks are bound to resign.”

Sanpada(Maha):Protesters agitated over cartoon related to Maratha protests,pelted stones at Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna office,earlier today pic.twitter.com/76OC9iAcsa

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 27, 2016

Leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said, “The cartoon raises a question on the motives of women wanting to be a part of the protests. We already knew Sena is an antiDalit and anti-Muslim party. But through this cartoon, we now know it is also an anti-Maratha party.”

Nationalist Congress Party leader Dhananjay Munde said, “The state government should register an offence against Saamana. The cartoon has disrespected martyred soldiers, their families, the police as well as women. This shows the abnormal mindset of the Shiv Sena.”

Looking at the antics of the executive editor, one feels like calling him a cartoon. He has hurt the sentiments of the Maratha community and should apologize,” said BJP leader Ashish Shelar by specifically targeting Saamana editor Sanjay Raut.  

However, Shiv Sena’s Subhas Desai, lashing out Congress and NCP, stated that Shiv Sena head Uddhav Thackeray has always shown full support to the Maratha protests. He said, “The Opposition leaders are trying to fuel the environment again even after the Maratha Kranti Morcha has exposed the miscreants responsible for inciting the controversy over the Saamana cartoon. In reality it is only because of the Congress and NCP the Maratha community has to take to the streets today.”

By Prajakt K.