Sena flays BJP for demanding separate ministry for Mumbai

Mumbai, July 12 (UNI) Even as the ''natural allies'' Shiv Sena and BJP disagreed on the Presidential candidate, the rift between the two parties seems to be widening with Sena mouthpiece ''Saamna'' today strongly criticising the BJP for its demand for a separate ministry to oversee Mumbai affairs.

An editorial, ''Ha suddha vishwasghatach (This, too, is betrayal), said a separate ministry for Mumbai implies a first step towards separating the metropolis from Maharashtra. Such a demand is a betrayal.

Recently, Mumbai BJP chief Prakash Mehta had submitted a memorandum to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh making such a demand.

The editorial, while flaying the demand, pointed out that 105 persons had been martyred over Maharashtra's formation.

The editorial also touched upon the Sena's disagreement with the BJP over the Presidential candidate and referred to senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde's remarks in this regard.

Mr Munde, while speaking to reporters, had observed that although the Shiv Sena continues to be an ally, its ''different'' stand on the Presidential election is nothing but ''betrayal''.

The editorial said it is because of the Shiv Sena that no one has been able to divide Maharashtra although there are some elements who want to form a separate state of Vidarbha.

The BJP was supportive of the separate Vidarbha demand but retracted the demand after its alliance with Shiv Sena.

The edit recalled that earlier also there were attempts to form a separate ministry for Mumbai when Sharad Pawar was the Chief Minister but even he did not commit this ''sin''. No one should dare to appoint a separate minister for Mumbai, it cautioned.

UNI