Munde's prophecy angers Shiv Sena: Saamana Editorial

Mumbai, Oct 30 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde's comments that after 25 years there will be only BJP and Congress in Maharashtra, indicating that both Shiv Sena and NCP would vanish, has been criticised and ridiculed in the editorial of Shiv sena mouthpiece Saamana.

Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray is the Editor of Saamana while Executive Editor is Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP.

Incidentally, NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil had also criticised and ridiculed the observations of Mr Munde. Mr Patil and state NCP chief Arun Gujarathi said there is no value for such prophecies. Mr Patil went on to say it seems that Mr Munde has started dabbling in astrology also.

Mr Munde's observations appeared in an interview to RSS mouthpiece Tarun Bharat's Diwali issue which was republished in 'Manogat' state BJP's periodical.

The editorial of Saamana remembered the architect of Shiv Sena BJP alliance late Pramod Mahajan, whose 57th birth anniversary is today.

The editorial titled 'Gopinathanche Kalnirnay- Popat, Pinjara aani Patte' in its first half concentrated on ridiculing Mr Munde, who, it said has become an astrologer telling prophecies.

It questioned Mr Munde's comments that after 25 years the small parties will vanish from the political horizon.

Criticising Mr Munde's comments that due to trifurcation Shiv Ssena has lost its power' the editorial said at national level the BJP was divided on so many occasions that no other party might have been divided.

''On many occasions it is beneficial for the family and party to separate if they are not getting along,'' the editorial observed.

This comment carries significance as Raj Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena chief left the party to float his own outfit raising allegations against his cousin Uddhav-who is also the Sena executive president.

Taking on another observation that 'nepotism' would not prevail after next 25 years, the editorial wondered about Mr Munde's own nepotism in Beed where his brother and nephews are ruling the roost.

It further said the attempts of Rahul, the 'talented' son of late Pramod Mahajan, to jump in politics was also a part of nepotism.

Showing a soft corner for late Mahajan, the editorial further said a policy has been prevailing in the BJP now to keep the close associates of late Mahajan out.

It categorically said that BJP could reach everywhere in Maharashtra only after its alliance with Shiv Sena.

Interestingly, former Shiv Sena strongman and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal also said that 'BJP's sapling' could grow in the state only after the support of a 'tree called Shiv Sena'. His comments also appeared in today's Saamana on front page.

In a sarcastic tone, the editorial in the end also advised to remember the days of erstwhile Jan Sangh.

When asked to comment about the editorial, Mr Munde said ''we always learn from the criticism of Shiv Sena chief and this is not the first time that such editorial has appeared in Saamana.'' Talking to reporters after Poonam Mahajan's entry into BJP, Mr Munde said, ''I never said that all parties would finish neither I want it to happen.'' He further said coalition is prevailing in the state and he expressed his opinion looking at the situation of various parties and he never wanted to hurt anybody.

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