'I Am With BJP-RSS From Today', Says Navy Veteran Who Was Brutally Assaulted By Shiv Sena Workers

Retired Indian Navy officer Madan Sharma who was brutally assaulted by Shiv Sena workers for sharing a cartoon on Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today said that he is "with the BJP and RSS from now on".

Sharma said that soon after he was assaulted allegations were levelled against him that he is associated with the RSS and BJP. He added that thus he would like to announce that he with them from now onward.

"From now on, I am with BJP-RSS. When I was beaten up, they had levelled allegations that I'm with BJP-RSS. So now I announce, that I am with BJP-RSS today onward", Sharma has been quoted as saying.

Sharma made this statement after a meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. The Navy veteran had given a memorandum to the Governor requesting a dismissal of the Shiv Sena led government and the imposition of President rule.

As per reports, Sharma had forwarded a cartoon showing Thackeray prostrating before pictures of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, on a WhatsApp group of his society members. Though nobody reacted from the society, someone forwarded the cartoon to Shiv Sena leader Kamlesh Kadam.

The Shiv Sainiks, including Shakha Pramukh Kamlesh Kadam, found these objectionable and stormed into Sharma’s home in Kandivali East on Friday, said an official of Samata Nagar Police Station here. It was a group of around 8-10 persons, all allegedly Shiv Sainiks, who came and assaulted Sharma in his society compound.

While the six accused including Kadam were arrested by Mumbai Police, they were granted bail by the cops within 24 hours. They have now been rearrested.