Mumbai: BJP, Shiv Sena supporters clash in Dadar; 40 detained

Scuffle broke out between Shiv Sena and BJP workers in Dadar | Pic/mid-day

At least 40 Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists have been detained after a scuffle broke out between BJYM and Shiv Sena supporters in Dadar on Wednesday afternoon.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha is the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP workers had organised a 'Phatkar Morcha' against Shiv Sena for their "offensive" remarks on the party's mouthpiece Saamana about the alleged Ayodhya Ram Temple construction scam.

BJYM workers were staging a protest outside Sena Bhawan in Dadar, however, matters escalated and a scuffle broke out between the workers of both parties.

BJYM workers have alleged that the Shiv Sena workers who were already present at the spot assaulted them.

BJP leaders Ashish Shelar, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pravin Darekar and others reached the police station and demanded action against Shiv Sena activists. Shelar, an MLA and former Maharashtra minister, warned of strong retaliation in future. "I warn Shiv Sena workers of retaliation if they again attacked our workers," he said, alleging that Sena workers also attacked a woman supporter of the BJP in the presence of police.

"The Sena was once proud of the demolition of the Babri mosque, but now for political reasons it is defaming Lord Ram. Sonia or Vadra (Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra) have now become the Sena's deities," he said, in a swipe at the Sena's alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra.

Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar said, "We were first told that BJP workers were coming to protest, later we learnt that they are coming to vandalise the Sena Bhavan. So we stopped them before they could reach near it."

While there was tight police arrangement outside the Bhawan, the chaos caused a massive roadblock and violation of Covid-19 norms. Reportedly, an FIR is filed at the Mahim police station.

With agency inputs