Shiv Sena Starts ‘I Am A Marathi Muslim’ Campaign, Asks Community To Make Its Presence Felt In Party’s Dasara Rally

The Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena now appears to have started an attempt to organise the state’s Muslims under the Marathi tag, The New Indian Express has reported.

In a viral video, a Muslim Shiv Sena party worker from Beed who is leading the ‘Me Marathi Musalman’ (I am a Marathi Musalmana) campaign, is seen appealing Muslims to attend the Dussehra rally of Shiv Sena in large numbers.

In the video, Naseeb Shaikh, who is resident of Sirsala village in Parli Taluka of Beed district is asking the community to stand firm with Shiv Sena in order to bring a change in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. In this regard, he appeals to the Muslim community to make their presence felt during the party’s Dasara rally in the Shivaji Park on 18 October and express their solidarity with the party.

Sheikh was quoted by the report as saying that Shiv Sena always respects patriotic Muslims while other parties use them as vote banks. He said that the mindset of the minority community is changing towards the party and so they have started the ‘Me Marathi Musalman’ drive to appeal Muslims to not get fooled by other parties and vote Shiv Sena to power.