Strong-arm tactics of two Shiv Sena leaders caught on tape

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena’s strong arm tactics were on display again after the party found itself in two controversies on Thursday, involving two elected representatives

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena’s strong arm tactics were on display again after the party found itself in two controversies on Thursday, involving two elected representatives of the party.

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The first instance involved a Sena Zilla Parishad member from Yavatmal, Pravin Shinde, who is seen in a video clip assaulting a bank official, ostensibly after an argument over issuing crop loans to farmers.

The other instance involved Dadar Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar, who is seen flailing his arm towards a woman. While some reports alleged Sarvankar had assaulted a woman standing next to him, the MLA denied it.

Shinde allegedly assaulted a Central Bank of India official in the agrarian-crisis hit district of Yavatmal on Wednesday.

Shinde had led a delegation of Sena leaders and workers, who were protesting against the failure of the bank to give out adequate crop loans to farmers.

According to the party, Shinde’s protest was aimed against the bank’s red tape and its malpractices. Explaining this sequence of events, a Sena leader said, “Shinde and the local party unit were protesting against the bank’s refusal to give farmers due loans. The bank was forcing farmers to go to agents and approving only those loans that were pushed by agents. When questioned, the bank employee started behaving arrogantly, leading to a ruckus.”

While Shinde couldn’t be contacted for his comment, the Sena stood behind him and has decided not to take any action against him.

“The cause was just. Often, at such occasions, a Shiv Sainik gets emotional. It’s the way the party functions,” said a party leader.

In the second instance, Sarvankar is seen flailing his arm towards a woman standing next to him, as seen in a short video clip HT accessed.

Sarvankar later issued a statement and said, “I was talking t o residents when someone pointed a phone towards me, while another person pointed a laser light towards me. As a reflex action, I pushed the mobile away with my hand. I don’t know what happened next. I was shocked when news channels starting alleging I had hit the woman.”

Sarvankar, in f act, also circulated a statement by the woman in question, who dismissed t he alle g ations and said the mobile phone accidentally hit her, after Sarvankar pushed it.

The Sena described the event as a non-starter. “This is a very trivial event. Sarvankar had no intention to hit her and that is clearly shown in the video. He only tried to stop someone from recording the event.”