Aaditya Thackeray clarifies his stand on anti-Gujarati editorial in Saamana

Mumbai: Just stopping short of announcing that Saamana newspaper is not a Shiv Sena mouthpiece, party chief Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya today made it clear that the Sena does not endorse the controversial anti-Gujarati editorial in the Marathi daily.

"For last two days an unnecessary controversy and as stated before, an attempt to sabotage the bond between Shiv Sena and Gujarati community has been raging and with this, I wish to put it to rest," Aaditya, who heads Yuva Sena, the party's youth outfit, said here today.

Aaditya Thackeray. File pic

"As stated in a personal statement by Shiv Sena party president Uddhavji Thackeray, we seek or make no difference between us and the Gujarati community of Mumbai and neither endorse such views by anyone as those of the party or the leadership. This is our view and we don't endorse the words of the editorial of 1st May," Aaditya said in a statement.

"The Gujaratis have been close at heart to Balasaheb Thackeray and all of us, always be it helping or supporting each other in times of need or prospering and feeling safe under Shiv Sena BJP government of 1995-99."

"We too have made our effort, when needed such as in times of the Bhuj earthquake or Narmada Dam project. This is to make clear that the party takes the Gujarati community as fellow Mumbaikars and with no differences made," he said.

"This very unity, seen strongly and the love felt by me personally in the Lok Sabha elections, be it South Mumbai, South Central or North West Mumbai, be it Thane or Kalyan, has ached many leading to sabotage this unity. I assure you, there was, is and will be no change in the good bond built over years between us," the junior Thackeray said.

"The community gave the party unconditional support to raise Maharashtra's voice in Delhi and their concerns would be equally voiced by the party making no difference and seeing them as Mumbaikars.

"With this, echoing the sentiments expressed by Uddhavji also, I hope to put the unnecessary controversy to rest," he said.