BJP leader writes to Centre on alleged attack; Insult to Maharashtra, says Sena

Hanuman Chalisa row: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has written a letter to the union home secretary, seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe by home ministry team, review of his security cover among others.

The showdown over the Hanuman Chalisa row continues in Maharashtra. Days after Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya alleged attack by nearly 100 Shiv Sena workers outside a police station in Mumbai, the saffron party will visit Delhi to apprise the home secretary about the incident.

“We're going to meet Union Home Secretary regarding terror-like situation created in Maharashtra by State govt. Fake FIR was registered against me, Shiv Sena workers are still giving threats. We'll give a detailed report &demand a special team for inquiry,” news agency ANI quoted Somaiya.

Somaiya alleged the attack took place when he went to meet Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana, the lawmaker couple who was arrested over giving a call to chant Hanuman Chalisa outside the residence of Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray. Navneet Rana is currently lodged in Mumbai's Byculla jail while her husband is currently in Navi Mumbai's Taloja jail.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's letter to the home secretary

However, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has hit out at the saffron party's proposed visit to Delhi, calling it a drama. “A delegation with 2-4 people is going (to Delhi) & what happened in Maharashtra? Someone bled a little (referring to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya)... if you have a problem, meet the Maharashtra CM, but you're going to Delhi, what is this?,” Raut told reporters.

On Sunday too, Raut had attacked Somaiya accusing him of being involved in the INS Vikrant case. “Kirit Somaiya is accused in the INS Vikrant case. He misled the country. If the public has expressed its anger against such people, then, the BJP should not be pained. The people of Maharashtra will not forgive such people,” he said.

Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil are accused of alleged misappropriation of funds collected to save decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant from being scrapped. The Bombay High Court has granted interim pre-arrest bail to the father-son duo.