Bomb jihadis instead, suggests Saamna

The eve of Shiv Sena’s 42nd Foundation Day was marked by angry reactions to an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

The editorial, published on Wednesday, called the accused in the Thane theatre blast case “fools” for the shoddy manner in which the blast was carried out.

“When we heard that Hindus have been making bombs, we were happy. But we felt ashamed when we read that the blast injured were Hindus,” said the editorial, triggering angry reactions from other political parties. The editorial even suggested that the accused could take tips from Islamic terrorists in this matter.

The Sena will celebrate its 42nd Foundation Day on Thursday.

The Congress has demanded the arrest of Saamna editor and Sena Chief Bal Thackeray. Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said the police would go through the editorial and decide if action could be taken against the paper and its editors.

Criticising the comments, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday advised its ally to respect the law. “People should not take law into their hands. It is the duty of the government to counter terror,” BJP Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said.

Four men were arrested for planting a crude bomb at auditoriums in Thane and Vashi to protest against the Marathi play Amhi Pachpute. The accused later told the police that they were members of Hindu organisations Janjagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, and were angry as the play insulted Hindu gods.

While the police defused the bomb planted at the Vashi auditorium, seven people were injured in Thane where the bomb had been planted in the parking lot.