For special treatment, go to Pakistan: Shiv Sena tells Muslims

Mumbai: "If the Muslim community in India want any special treatment as Muslims, they should go to Pakistan," the Shiv Sena warned here Tuesday.

"If they (Muslims) want anything from this country, they must first accept India as their motherland and proclaim 'Vande Mataram'. They cannot demand freedom and yet continue to cling to their religion," the party said in a sharp edit in 'Saamana' on Tuesday.

The edit was said to be in reaction to All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi's speech in Nagpur March 1, where among other things, he demanded reservations for the Muslim community on the lines of Marathas in Maharashtra.

Asaduddin Owaisi

Taking umbrage at Owaisi's tone and tenor, the Shiv Sena reiterated its stance that reservations policy must be based on social criteria and not religious lines.

"The poorest of poor Muslim should be given reservation, not because he is a Muslim, but because he is a citizen of India," the party declared.

It urged all people - especially Muslims and Hindus - to accept this philosophy, which could eradicate politics of vote-banks and reservations, and help the country's progress.

"Now, Owaisi is insisting that since reservations have been given to Marathas, even Muslims must be granted the same. It was exactly such a stubborn attitude of anti-Hindu hardliner Muslims which resulted in the partition of India and they had created Pakistan," the Sena said.

But, not anymore, the Sena warned.

Listing the requirements, 'Saamana' said Muslims must accept the uniform civil code, embrace family planning and give up the demand for Article 370 pertaining to the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Blasting Owaisi, it said the day when such leaders stop brainwashing the Muslims with their hate politics, it would spell a new era for the country.

"Owaisi claims that Muslims have suffered a lot in India. Has he bothered to calculate how much Hindus have suffered with the Muslim fundamentalism, terror activities, bomb blasts and communal riots," it pointed out.

Demanding that such a speech by Owaisi should be treated as 'anti-national', the Sena demanded an investigation to ascertain whether he has taken a 'contract' to create communal disturbances in Maharashtra, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must take action in the matter.