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

Shiv Sena demands government to file case against Indian Muslim leader who called for more rights for Muslims

Lashing out at Indian Muslim leader Asaduddin Owaisi for demanding more rights for Muslims in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena said on Tuesday if Owaisi wants his demands to be met on religious grounds, then he should go to Pakistan.

“Owaisi may try and get his demands based on religious grounds fulfilled in Pakistan," a Shiv Sena statement read, according to the Times of India.

Addressing a public gathering in Nagpur Saturday night, The All India Majlis-e-Ittahadul Muslimeen president Owaisi had demanded reservation for backward Muslims in government jobs and educational institutes in Maharashtra.

Terming his statement “hateful,” Shiv Sena said, “"Owaisi is insisting that Muslims should get reservation akin to the Marathas. Such insistence had caused the separation of Pakistan from India. Hatred for Hindus compelled a section of Muslims to take control over Pakistan.”

Shiv Sena further demanded government should file a case against him and start legal proceedings.

It added that Muslims would have to respect India as their motherland.

"They (Muslims) will have to respect the Uniform Civil Code and stop demanding the continuation of Article 370 for Kashmir. Asking for reservations while continuing with religious rants will not work," it said.

Claiming Muslims suffered “injustice” in Maharashtra during Congress rule at the centre and the Congress-NCP and Shiv Sena -BJP governments in the state.

Hitting out at Owaisi’s statement that Muslims have suffered a lot, Shiv Sena questioned, “But will he give a count of the sufferings of Hindus due to the terrorist activities of extremist Muslims?”

“If extremists start communal violence and terrorist activities after listening to his speeches... Owaisi's speeches should be termed as hateful and action should be taken against him," Shiv Sena said.

Further, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee approved on Tuesday the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, banning the slaughter of cows and bulls and threatening to imprison for five years anyone found to be selling the meat or in possession of it.

Read: Indian president approves ban on beef in Maharashtra

However, beef traders said they are checking if they can take legal action. The beef trade in the state is largely controlled by Muslims of the Qureshi caste.