Letters: Sena's wayward ways

This refers to the editorial “Play Mistry for me” (October 19). It is high time the Shiv Sena did something constructive instead of hate mongering. By banning books, pillorying Pakistani artists and curbing freedom of choice, it is only making a nuisance of itself. The party needs to think hard over how to keep itself politically relevant. It is no longer a representative of Marathi manoos. In fact, by getting up to such antics, it is further distancing itself from its constituency. The people it seeks to represent are disgusted by the Sena’s desperate deeds.

Let’s face it, the Shiv Sena is feared, not respected. This has made its cadre a bunch of lotus-eaters living in a world of delusion. Where is their contribution towards worthy causes? How many of them have saved poor Vidarbha farmers from committing suicide? A recent survey showed that 62 per cent of people in Mumbai live in slums. Has the Sena ever tried to provide respectable housing for the underprivileged? Alas, Bal Thackeray’s grandson Aditya Thackeray turned out to be a chip of the old block when he had a chance of being a prudent leader.

Dushyant Singh Panwar, on email