The Shiv Sena has demanded that India be declared a "Hindu Rashtra." In an interview to the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the Centre over the situation in Kashmir and said that for the common man, nothing had changed under the new government.
"Once the elections are here, the Prime Minister tours states. Then he had also gone to Kashmir. Why doesn't the Prime Minister go to Kashmir now and stand behind Hindu brethren?" questioned Uddhav, adding that the Shiv Sena is willing to fight for the sake of Hindutva.
"What are the Hindus in other political parties doing? Or are they ashamed of calling themselves Hindus?" he lashed out. Uddhav said that there is no option other than to declare India as "Hindu Rashtra." "Enough of pandering to secularism. Secularism has led to injustice against Hindus," he alleged.
"It is difficult to understand what is happening in the country," charged Uddhav, "the lives of the common man continue as it is. The fog of uncertainty over their lives has not lifted." "The government has changed, but did the lives of common people change? What are you going to do about it?" he asked.
The Sena chief said: "If speaking about Hindutva is a crime, at least shed the false pretensions of secularism - as the country is now stuck between the two (Hindutva and secularism). "When Hindus are being targetted and attacked, where are these secularists? What about the Sanatan Sanstha, which is being crushed like a snake? We don't support them, but let the truth about the Sanatan Sanstha come out once and for all. Merely talking and labelling them will not serve the cause of justice," Thackeray said.
"The Hindus are in a majority, yet they are subjected to atrocities. They elected this government with the hope and confidence of improving their lot, but the same old story as before (Congress rule) continues," Thackeray said.
"We have to decide now, enough of this 'secular' stuff. The only option left is to declare India a 'Hindu Rashtra', if attacks on Hindus have to be prevented," Thackeray said in his annual birthday eve interview.
By Premji
