Force feeding fasting Muslim: Uddhav's statement isn't an apology

Even as the row broke out over Shiv Sena leaders force feeding a Muslim Maharashtra Sadan staff and breaking his Ramzan fast, the party and its leaders remain unapologetic with Uddhav Thackeray saying the party did not intend to hurt religious sentiments. Many news reports appeared saying Thackeray had apologised, his statement was far away from an apology Ibnlive quoted him as saying, “We are Hindutvawadi, but we do not hate others. This is an attempt to suppress the voice of Shiv Sena. We do no stoop to such levels to protest.” [caption id=“attachment_1631023” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in a file photo. PTI[/caption] Sena found itself in the eye of a storm as there were protests even in the Lok Sabha over the issue. Video footage accessed by television channels shows Shiv Sena MP Rajan Vichare force feeding Arshad, the manager of the catering service in the residency. Opposition parties slammed the Sena and have demanded an immediate apology as well as their suspension from Parliament. In the wake of the uproar, both Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and BJP leader LK Advani have stepped in and attempted to mitigate the damage. Another Shiv Sena MP Anandrao Adsul made excuses saying the caterer’s religion was not known. However, there was no sign of an apology. “I was present there,didn’t know his religion,to make an issue out of this is wrong. Food was of poor quality, we asked attendant to taste quality, didn’t know his religion.” Veteran BJP leader LK Advani too defended its ally saying, “What happened isn’t right, even Parliament Affairs Minister has spoken against it, I believe concerned MPs have apologised.” Several opposition parties slammed Sena during the Lok Sabha session. “The MPs should tender an apology, there is no place for such majoritarianism. It is absolutely reprehensible and should be condemned in the strongest possible manner,” Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters. BJP’s M Venkaiah Naidu, who is the Parliamentary Affairs Minister asked the Speaker not to discuss the issue right now as facts of the matter were not yet known. “Nobody knows what the facts are, we must first get the facts, then discuss,” he said. Meanwhile, Kamal Faruki, Member of the Muslim Personal Law Board, said the incident must be condemned, saying “there is a need for an enquiry into it if the staff was forced to break his fast by MPs”. With agency inputs