Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken its complaints regarding the “tone of language” in Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, to “vahini (bhabhi, sister-in-law)” Rashmi Thackeray, the newspaper’s editor and wife of Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The BJP’s Maharashtra unit chief, Chandrakant Patil, wrote a letter to Rashmi Thackeray Saturday requesting her “to think about the kind of language published in Saamana“. Since the “past few days”, he added, the newspaper has been using “derogatory language about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s other central and state leaders”.
The letter, which Patil also shared on his Facebook page, said, “Vahini, I only want to say that you are the editor of Saamana and are responsible for the news and the language published in the newspaper. Vahini, I know you very well as a person and I am sure you must not be liking this language.”
Patil, a former state cabinet minister, added, “Through this letter, I am only requesting this that as an editor you should think about the language used in your newspaper. If you think my request is not appropriate and the language in your Saamana newspaper is appropriate, then you can continue by all means. I wish you luck for that.”
Over the last few days, the Shiv Sena, through editorials in Saamana, has severely criticised BJP leaders over issues such as the protests by farmers and the Enforcement Directorate’s notices to its political opponents.
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The ‘Saamana language’
Saamana is known to lash out at the Shiv Sena’s political opponents through scathing editorials that are penned by its executive editor, Sanjay Raut, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP.
The editorials, however, are seen as the editor and the party chief’s voice, and reflect the Shiv Sena’s official stand.
Since the days of Bal Thackeray, the language in the editorials has been harsh, bordering on offensive, and rife with satire, as was the oratory style of the Sena founder. Raut took over as executive editor of Saamana in the 1990s and has been writing the paper’s editorials almost in the same tone.
Even as Uddhav Thackeray, known to be milder than his father in his words and political style, took over as Shiv Sena chief, the language of the editorials, which has over the years come to be known as ‘Saamana style’, remained constant.
After Bal Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray took over as the editor of Saamana. He stepped down in March 2020, months after being sworn in as Maharashtra CM in November 2019. Rashmi then took over as editor of the newspaper, published by Prabodhan Prakashan.
Rashmi Thackeray is known to be poised, soft spoken, and has always kept a low profile. However, she is known to play a significant role in the Shiv Sena’s functioning while staying in the political shadows.
Last month, when the Sena inducted actor Urmila Matondkar in the party, it was Rashmi Thackeray who tied the saffron thread on the actor’s wrist to welcome her into the party, in keeping with the Shiv Sena’s traditional practice of ‘Shiv bandhan’.
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Shivsena is a party of boors and thugs. Expecting decent language and decent conduct from them, even educated among them, is too much to expect.
Rashmi Thakare is another Gopika Bai of Maratha Peshave who ensured that power remains in the family but in the process helped destroy Maratha empire. Rashmi Thakare has kept power Inthe family but ruined ShivSena
Best not to comment on this article. These “poised & soft-spoken” people beat up ex-Army /Navy veterans for expressing their opinions. What chance do common people like us have?