Chhota Rajan's arrest insignificant, we want terrorist Dawood: Shiv Sena

Mumbai, Oct 26: Shiv Sena today said the arrest of dreaded gangster Chhota Rajan was "insignificant" and the country is waiting for arrest of Dawood Ibrahim.

"It is ok that Chhota Rajan has been arrested. But, India is actually waiting for Dawood's arrest. Chhota Rajan's arrest is insignificant. We want a terrorist to be arrested, which Dawood is.

"Thus, we want people like Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon to be arrested and brought back to India," Sena MP Sanjay Raut told PTI. [How Chhota Rajan's cover was blown]

"Dawood's name has cropped up to be behind the Mumbai bomb blasts. We have not heard Chhota Rajan's name to be behind it (the blasts). As per law, action will be taken against Chhota Rajan, but the entire country is waiting for Dawood's arrest," he said.

Supporting the Sena's views, Congress said the BJP-led government (at the Centre), before coming to power had promised the arrest of Ibrahim and that people are waiting for it to happen.

"This government had promised that Dawood will be deported here (once the BJP came to power at the Centre). We are waiting for that to happen. In this case, Chhota Rajan is also a criminal whose right place is behind bars," Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.

The NCP however, crossed swords with the Sena over the issue and said that a criminal is a criminal and that no criminal should be considered small.

"Any gangster who is a fugitive is an achievement for the country. No criminal is big or small," NCP leader Jitendra Awhad said.

Chhota Rajan, one of India's most wanted gangster, has been arrested in the tourist town of Bali, Indonesia on a Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol after eluding law enforcement agencies for over two decade.

Fugitives Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon are accused to be the masterminds of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

PTI