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== Origins of the Shiv Sena ==
== Origins of the Shiv Sena ==
{{Hindu politics}}
{{Hindu politics}}
[[Image:Shivsenakolkata.jpg|thumb|Shiv Sena poster in [[Kolkata]]]]
[[Image:Shivsenakolkata.jpg|thumb|Shiv Sena poster in [[Kolkata]], urging to "make noise" against Valentine's Day]]
After the incorporation of the Bombay presidency in the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra, [[Mumbai]] gained the status of economic capital of India and attracted a large number of migrants from other states. Within a short period of time, non-Maharashtrians, especially people belonging to the [[Gujarati]] and [[Marwari]] communities, owned the majority of the industry and trade in the city.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>. Moreover, a large number people from South Indian migrated to Mumbai during this period and soon filled a number of white-collar jobs. The Shiv Sena was thus born out of a feeling of resentment about the 'marginilization' of the native Marathi people in their own state by people who had migrated from other states.<ref name="All info in the para, except for the references in between"> {{cite web |url=http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-ketkar011104.htm|title=“Shiv Sena On The Threshold Of Disintegration”|publisher=[[The Indian Express]] via www.countercurrent.org|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref> The Shiv Sena especially attracted a large number of disgruntled and often unemployed Maharashtrian youth, who were pulled towards Thackeray's charged anti-migrant oratory<ref name="Rediff article: sons of the soil, lungi slogan, shakhas, south Indians in 1970, shift to Hindutva, defeat of communists/"> {{cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm|title="Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"|publisher=Rediff.com|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>.
After the incorporation of the Bombay presidency in the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra, [[Mumbai]] gained the status of economic capital of India and attracted a large number of migrants from other states. Within a short period of time, non-Maharashtrians, especially people belonging to the [[Gujarati]] and [[Marwari]] communities, owned the majority of the industry and trade in the city.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>. Moreover, a large number people from South Indian migrated to Mumbai during this period and soon filled a number of white-collar jobs. The Shiv Sena was thus born out of a feeling of resentment about the 'marginilization' of the native Marathi people in their own state by people who had migrated from other states.<ref name="All info in the para, except for the references in between"> {{cite web |url=http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-ketkar011104.htm|title=“Shiv Sena On The Threshold Of Disintegration”|publisher=[[The Indian Express]] via www.countercurrent.org|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref> The Shiv Sena especially attracted a large number of disgruntled and often unemployed Maharashtrian youth, who were pulled towards Thackeray's charged anti-migrant oratory<ref name="Rediff article: sons of the soil, lungi slogan, shakhas, south Indians in 1970, shift to Hindutva, defeat of communists/"> {{cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm|title="Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"|publisher=Rediff.com|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>.


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==Achievements of the Shiv Sena==
==Achievements of the Shiv Sena==
⚫
Supporters of the Sena have claimed that the party has benefited the ''Marathi Manus'' (Marathi man) in Mumbai<ref name="Marathi Manus"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/11/24/stories/2003112400851000.htm|title="On the wrong track"|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>, especially in the public sector.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> However, the Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'<ref name="No deliveries"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219008601500.htm|title="Diversionary tactics"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref>


=== Claims of benefits to Maharashtrians===
⚫
Supporters of the Sena have claimed that the party has benefited the ''Marathi Manus'' (Marathi man) in Mumbai<ref name="Marathi Manus"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/11/24/stories/2003112400851000.htm|title="On the wrong track"|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>, especially in the public sector.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> However, the Sena has allegedly done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'<ref name="No deliveries"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219008601500.htm|title="Diversionary tactics"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref>

=== Dharavi emancipation===
The Sena claims to have played a central role in the emancipation of 500,000 slum dwellers in the [[Dharavi]] area of [[Mumbai]], the largest slum in Asia. <ref>p[http://www.rediff.com/news/aug/12sena.htm Rediff News].</ref> However, the state's policy of giving free houses to slum dwellers has been mired in controversy ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1386244.cms] [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040423/election.htm#1].
The Sena claims to have played a central role in the emancipation of 500,000 slum dwellers in the [[Dharavi]] area of [[Mumbai]], the largest slum in Asia. <ref>p[http://www.rediff.com/news/aug/12sena.htm Rediff News].</ref> However, the state's policy of giving free houses to slum dwellers has been mired in controversy ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1386244.cms] [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040423/election.htm#1].


⚫
Apart from this, the Sena has been active in trying to improve infrastructure in Maharashtra, particularly in the financial capital of Mumbai. Nearly 40 flyovers in Mumbai and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway were constructed under the Shiv Sena administration, which led to a significant infrastructural boom in Mumbai. While successive State governments have been guilty of neglecting Mumbai's transport problems, the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government drastically altered the course. Moreover, by initiating a range of road schemes, the Sena unequivocally opted for private, motorised transport in preference to public transport.[http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0108/01080140.htm]
=== Improvements in infrastructure===
⚫
In addition, the Sena has been active in trying to improve infrastructure in Maharashtra, particularly in the financial capital of Mumbai. Nearly 40 flyovers in Mumbai and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway were constructed under the Shiv Sena administration, which led to a significant infrastructural boom in Mumbai. While successive State governments have been guilty of neglecting Mumbai's transport problems, the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government drastically altered the course. Moreover, by initiating a range of road schemes, the Sena unequivocally opted for private, motorised transport in preference to public transport.[http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0108/01080140.htm]


These moves have been a crucial factor in its increasing popularity within India and the promises of further improvement have boosted the Shiv Sena's campaigns.
These moves have been a crucial factor in its increasing popularity within India and the promises of further improvement have boosted the SS's campaigns.{{Dubious}}


== Controversial activities of the Shiv Sena ==
== Controversial Activities of the Shiv Sena ==
{{POV}}
{{POV}}

===Bhumiputra campaign===
During its early years, the Sena occassionally resorted to violence and threats against people belonging to other Indian communities as part of its 'sons of the soil' ideology. In the early years of the Sena, the party's widely circulated Marathi language-weekly ''Marmik'' was instrumental in inflamming the anti-migrant sentiment in Mumbai's Maharashtrians.<ref name="Role of Marmik, attacks against Udupi restaraunts/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1518/15180200.htm|title="'The General' in his labyrinth"|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> Thackeray, then a cartoonist for the Free Press journal, initially targeted the growing number of [[South India]] by inflammatory slogans like ''"lungi hatao pungi bajao"'' (referring to the ''lungi,'' a Marathi word for the traditional men's dress in South India)<ref name="Rediff article: sons of the soil, lungi slogan, shakhas, south Indians in 1970, shift to Hindutva, defeat of communists/"> {{cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm|title="Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"|publisher=Rediff.com|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>, and "''yendu gundu''" (a derogatory description of the [[Dravidian language]]s spoken by the people from South India).<ref name="Yendu gundu and 1966"> {{cite web |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/041006/149/2h4uc.html|title="NCP attracts EC ire on campaign spoofs"|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> During this period, Shiv Sainiks launched a string of attacks on the South-Indian owned ''[[Udupi]]'' restaurants that were becoming popular in Mumbai.<ref name="Role of Marmik, attacks against Udupi restaurants/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1518/15180200.htm|title="'The General' in his labyrinth"|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> In a similar manner, Thackeray later targeted Gujaratis, Marwaris, [[Bihari|Biharis]], and people from [[North India]]n states like [[Uttar Pradesh]] ('UPites') through his speeches.<ref name="Attacks on other communities"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/841488.stm|title="Profile: Bombay's militant voice"|publisher=[[BBC]] news|accessdate=2006-07-13}}</ref> Moreover, Thackeray threatened a number of local industrialists and businessmen with action unless they offered preferential employment to Maharashtrian people.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>
During its early years, the Sena occassionally resorted to violence and threats against people belonging to other Indian communities as part of its 'sons of the soil' ideology. In the early years of the Sena, the party's widely circulated Marathi language-weekly ''Marmik'' was instrumental in inflamming the anti-migrant sentiment in Mumbai's Maharashtrians.<ref name="Role of Marmik, attacks against Udupi restaraunts/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1518/15180200.htm|title="'The General' in his labyrinth"|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> Thackeray, then a cartoonist for the Free Press journal, initially targeted the growing number of [[South India]]ns<ref name="Targeting South Indians first, backing BJP for Hindutva/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.countercurrents.org/dalit-puniyani290803.htm|title=“Shiv Sena Dangles Carrot For Dalits”|publisher=[[The Indian Express]] via www.countercurrent.org|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref> by inflammatory slogans like ''"lungi hatao pungi bajao"'' (referring to the ''lungi,'' a Marathi word for the traditional men's dress in South India)<ref name="Rediff article: sons of the soil, lungi slogan, shakhas, south Indians in 1970, shift to Hindutva, defeat of communists/"> {{cite web |url=http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm|title="Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"|publisher=Rediff.com|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>, and "''yendu gundu''" (a derogatory description of the [[Dravidian language]]s spoken by the people from South India).<ref name="Yendu gundu and 1966"> {{cite web |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/041006/149/2h4uc.html|title="NCP attracts EC ire on campaign spoofs"|publisher=Yahoo News|accessdate=2006-08-06}}</ref> During this period, Shiv Sainiks launched a string of attacks on the South-Indian owned ''[[Udupi]]'' restaurants that were becoming popular in Mumbai.<ref name="Role of Marmik, attacks against Udupi restaurants/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1518/15180200.htm|title="'The General' in his labyrinth"|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref> In a similar manner, Thackeray later targeted Gujaratis, Marwaris, [[Bihari|Biharis]], and people from [[North India]]n states like [[Uttar Pradesh]] ('UPites') through his speeches.<ref name="Attacks on other communities"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/841488.stm|title="Profile: Bombay's militant voice"|publisher=[[BBC]] news|accessdate=2006-07-13}}</ref> Moreover, Thackeray threatened a number of local industrialists and businessmen with action unless they offered preferential employment to Maharashtrian people.<ref name="Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1311115,prtpage-1.cms|title="Sena fate: From roar to meow"|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=2006-08-11}}</ref>


[[Image:060214 antivalentines vlrg 5a.widec.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Shiv Sainiks burn Valentine's Day cards in Kolkata to protest 'vulgar' western influences on Hindu culture]]
[[Image:060214 antivalentines vlrg 5a.widec.jpg|right|thumb|170px|Shiv Sainiks burn Valentine's Day cards in Kolkata to protest 'vulgar' western influences on Hindu culture]]


⚫
In addition to its campaign against non-Maharashtrians in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena has been known the resort to violence and force in public in the name of protecting Hindutva from what it deems as corrupting western influences. The party has been involved in organized protests, pickets, market shutdowns and strikes that have been known to degenerate into violent clashes and in some instances riots. For instance, Shiv Sena activits have rampaged shops in Mumbai selling gifts for [[Valentine's Day]] as part of the party's campaign against 'vulgar' western influences on youth.<ref name="Shiv Sena attacks valentine's celebrations"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1169077.stm|title="Tough love for Indian Valentines"|publisher=[[BBC]] news|accessdate=2006-07-13}}</ref> Likewise, in 1998, Shiv Sainiks attacked movie theatres in Mumbai screening director [[Deepa Mehta|Deepa Mehta's]] [[Fire (film)|Fire]], a highly controversial film based on a [[lesbianism|lesbian]] theme on the grounds that such films violated Hindu ethos and were immoral for Hindus to watch. As a result, the screening of the movie was withdrawn. Later, members of the Sena's Varanasi branch launched violent protests against the filming of Mehta's [[Water (film)|Water]], under the pretext that such films were made with the designs of intentionally defaming Hinduism by portraying [[Varanasi]] and other holy cities in an overly negative light.<ref name="Water"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/629578.stm|title="Controversial film 'Water' cleared"|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref> As a result of the protests, the location for shooting the film was shifted to the neighbouring [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name="Shifting of location"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1844426.cms|title=" 'Opposition to Water was very traumatic' "|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref>
===Party violence===
The Sena is has been accused of being involved in coordinated political violence in order to propagate its ideologies and attack opposing ideologies. For this reason, it has sometimes been described as a militant right-wing group.

⚫
In the 1970s, Shiv Sena members were accused as responsible for killing Krishna Desai, [[CPI]] [[MLA]] from the [[Parel]] neighbourhood in Central Mumbai. However, the attackers were not indicted for murder.<ref name="Spread to Marathwada and Vidarbha, Desai’s murder, alliance with BJP following Babri/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.europe-solidaire.org/article.php3?id_article=1033|title= “Revolt In The Shiv Sena: death-knell for a fascist party?”|publisher=[[The Kashmir Times]] accessed via website of the Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières association|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref> On February 8, 2006, Sena workers, led allegedly by Sena's student wing, attacked the office of the [[Zee TV]] channel, ransacking and damaging the office. The attack came in response to a satirical skit titled 'Kaka mala Vachva' ( Marathi for 'Uncle, protect me'), staged during the awards function hosted by the channel at the [[Bandra]]-[[Kurla]] complex. The skit was reportedly a comment on the power tussle within the Thackeray family, which ultimately resulted in the exit of Thackeray's nephew Raj from the party some time ago.<ref name="Attack on Zee"> {{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=62618|title="Bala Saheb justifies attack on Zee TV"|publisher=The Indian Express|accessdate=2006-08-16}}</ref>


⚫
In addition to its campaign against non-Maharashtrians in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena protests have been known to break down into violence and force in public in the name of protecting Hindutva from what it deems as corrupting western influences. The party has been involved in organized protests, pickets, market shutdowns and strikes that have been known to degenerate into violent clashes and in some instances riots. For instance, Shiv Sena activists have attacked shops in Mumbai selling gifts for [[Valentine's Day]] as part of the party's campaign against 'vulgar' western influences on youth.<ref name="Shiv Sena attacks valentine's celebrations"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1169077.stm|title="Tough love for Indian Valentines"|publisher=[[BBC]] news|accessdate=2006-07-13}}</ref> Likewise, in 1998, Shiv Sainiks attacked movie theatres in Mumbai screening director [[Deepa Mehta|Deepa Mehta's]] [[Fire (film)|Fire]], a highly controversial film based on a [[lesbianism|lesbian]] theme on the grounds that such films violated Hindu ethos and were immoral for Hindus to watch. As a result, the screening of the movie was withdrawn. Later, members of the Sena's Varanasi branch launched aggressive protests against the filming of Mehta's [[Water (film)|Water]], on the grounds that such films were made with the designs of intentionally defaming Hinduism by portraying [[Varanasi]] and other holy cities in an innacurate and negative light.<ref name="Water"> {{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/629578.stm|title="Controversial film 'Water' cleared"|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref> As a result of the protests, the location for shooting the film was shifted to the neighbouring [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name="Shifting of location"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1844426.cms|title=" 'Opposition to Water was very traumatic' "|publisher=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref>

===Allegations of violence against Muslims===
⚫
The Shiv Sena has also been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims. The Sena is widely alleged to have played an active role in the riots in Mumbai following the demolition of the [[Babri Mosque]] in [[1992]] in the north-Indian holy city of [[Ayodhya]]. On [[23 January]] 1993, the then [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-led Government of [[Maharashtra]] appointed Justice [[B.N. Srikrishna]] (then a sitting Judge of the [[Bombay High Court]]) to head a one-man commission with the task of investigating the riots. The Commission indicted the Sena for its direct involvement in coordinating the anti-Muslim riots, and accused Thackeray of "commanding his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organised attacks against Muslims."<ref name="Thackeray commander, Sena indicted"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1517/15170200.htm|title="The Shiv Sena indicted"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref> However, Thackeray was absolved of all criminal charges in July [[2000]] after seven years of judicial proceedings.<ref name="Absolved"> {{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/BG27Df01.html|title="Firebrand Thackeray let off the hook"|publisher=[[The Asian Times]] online edition|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref>


⚫
The Shiv Sena has also been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims in name of protecting Hindutva. The Sena is widely believed to have played an active role in the riots in Mumbai following the demolition of the [[Babri Mosque]] in [[1992]] in the north-Indian holy city of [[Ayodhya]]. On [[23 January]] 1993, the then [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-led Government of [[Maharashtra]] appointed Justice [[B.N. Srikrishna]] (then a sitting Judge of the [[Bombay High Court]]) to head a one-man commission with the task of investigating the riots. The Commission indicted the Sena for its direct involvement in coordinating the anti-Muslim riots, and accused Thackeray of "commanding his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organised attacks against Muslims."<ref name="Thackeray commander, Sena indicted"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1517/15170200.htm|title="The Shiv Sena indicted"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref> However, Thackeray was absolved of all criminal charges in July [[2000]] after seven years of judicial proceedings.<ref name="Absolved"> {{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/BG27Df01.html|title="Firebrand Thackeray let off the hook"|publisher=[[The Asian Times]] online edition|accessdate=2008-08-08}}</ref>
⚫
Additionally, as part of their efforts to hamper any collaboration between India and the Muslim dominated [[Pakistan]], Shiv Sainiks have resorted to damaging [[cricket]] [[Cricket pitch|pitchs]] in stadiums where the Indian and Pakistani cricket team were scheduled to play. The two most prominent instances of the Sena's targeting pitches are the destruction of the pitch at Mumbai's [[Wankhede Stadium]] in 1991 and the vandalizing of the [[Feroz Shah Kotla|Feroz Shah Kotla Grounds]] pitch in national capital [[Delhi]] in [[1999]].<ref name="History of damaging pitches"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1602/16020280.htm|title="Spreading its wings"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref> The Sena orchestrated these activities in an atmosphere of growing tensions between the two nations.


⚫
Additionally, as part of their efforts to hamper any collaboration between India and the Muslim dominated [[Pakistan]], Shiv Sainiks have resorted to damaging [[cricket]] [[Cricket pitch|pitchs]] in stadiums where the Indian and Pakistani cricket team were schedule to play. The two most prominent instances of the Sena's targeting pitches is the destruction of the pitch at Mumbai's [[Wankhede Stadium]] in 1991 and the vandalizing of the [[Feroz Shah Kotla|Feroz Shah Kotla Grounds]] pitch in national capital [[Delhi]] in [[1999]].<ref name="History of damaging pitches"> {{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1602/16020280.htm|title="Spreading its wings"|publisher=The Hindu Frontline Magazine|accessdate=2006-08-13}}</ref> The Sena orchestrated these activities in an atmosphere of growing tensions between the two nations. However, in an interview in 1998, Thackeray claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the [[Babri Mosque]] or [[Ramjanmabhoomi]] issue <ref name="1998 interview">[http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/21nandy.htm]</ref>, saying: "We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us." In addition, some members of the Sena claim that the party does not discriminate on the basis of religion and is based on pure nationalism. However, criterion for determining enemies from friends is vague.<ref> [http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm Rediff] Know your Party: Shiv Sena</ref>
=== Claims of tempered stance===
In an interview in 1998, Thackeray claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the [[Babri Mosque]] or [[Ramjanmabhoomi]] issue <ref name="1998 interview">[http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/21nandy.htm]</ref>, saying: "We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us." In addition, some members of the Sena claim that the party does not discriminate on the basis of religion and is based on pure nationalism. However, criterion for determining opponents from supporters remains vague.<ref> [http://in.rediff.com/election/2004/apr/23espec3.htm Rediff] Know your Party: Shiv Sena</ref>


⚫
The Sena is also involved in coordinating political violence in order to propagate its ideologies and attack opposing ideologies. For this reason, it has sometimes been described as a militant right-wing group. In the 1970s, Shiv Sena members were accused as responsible for killing Krishna Desai, [[CPI]] [[MLA]] from the [[Parel]] neighbourhood in Central Mumbai. However, the attackers were not indicted for murder.<ref name="Spread to Marathwada and Vidarbha, Desai’s murder, alliance with BJP following Babri/"> {{cite web |url=http://www.europe-solidaire.org/article.php3?id_article=1033|title= “Revolt In The Shiv Sena: death-knell for a fascist party?”|publisher=[[The Kashmir Times]] accessed via website of the Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières association|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref> On February 8, 2006, Sena workers, led allegedly by Sena's student wing, attacked the office of the [[Zee TV]] channel, ransacking and damaging the office. The attack came in response to a satirical skit titled 'Kaka mala Vachva' ( Marathi for 'Uncle, protect me'), staged during the awards function hosted by the channel at the [[Bandra]]-[[Kurla]] complex. The skit was reportedly a comment on the power tussle within the Thackeray family, which ultimately resulted in the exit of Thackeray's nephew Raj from the party some time ago.<ref name="Attack on Zee"> {{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=62618|title="Bala Saheb justifies attack on Zee TV"|publisher=The Indian Express|accessdate=2006-08-16}}</ref> On July 9, 2006, after some unidentified miscreants desecrated the statue of Meenatai (the late wife of Bal Thackeray), Shiv Sainiks blocked roads at Dadar in central Mumbai and damaged a police outpost.<ref name="Shiv Sena irate over meenatai's descecration"> {{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=70757|title="Shiv Sainiks run amok, Maha on high alert"|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref>, and later launched statewide protests mired with isolated incidences of violence in [[Nagpur]], [[Pune]], [[Nashik]] and other cities in Maharashtra.<ref name="Rampage in cities of Maha"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1719734.cms|
=== Meenatai desecration protests===
On July 9, 2006, after some unidentified miscreants desecrated the statue of Meenatai (the late wife of Bal Thackeray), Shiv Sainiks blocked roads at Dadar in central Mumbai and damaged a police outpost.<ref name="Shiv Sena irate over meenatai's descecration"> {{cite web |url=http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=70757|title="Shiv Sainiks run amok, Maha on high alert"|publisher=[[The Indian Express]]|accessdate=2006-07-09}}</ref>, and later launched statewide protests mired with isolated incidences of violence in [[Nagpur]], [[Pune]], [[Nashik]] and other cities in Maharashtra.<ref name="Rampage in cities of Maha"> {{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1719734.cms|
title=“Maharashtra faces the wrath of Shiv Sena”|publisher=[[The Hindustan Times]]|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>
title=“Maharashtra faces the wrath of Shiv Sena”|publisher=[[The Hindustan Times]]|accessdate=2006-07-22}}</ref>


Revision as of 10:44, 30 August 2006

Shiv Sena
LeaderBal Thackeray
Founded1966
HeadquartersSena Bhavan, Mumbai
Newspaper'Saamnaa'
IdeologyHindutva (Hindu nationalism) and Bhumiputra
AllianceNational Democratic Alliance
Website
http://www.saamna.com

Shiv Sena or शिव सेना (meaning Army of Shiva, referring to Shiva) is a political party in India founded on June 19, 1966 by Bal Thackeray, who is currently the president of the party. The Sena's ideology is based on the concepts of 'Bhumiputra' (Marathi for "Sons of Soil") and Hindutva or Hindu nationalism. The 'Bhumiputra' ideology refers to the Shiv Sena's belief that Maharashtrians deserve more rights in Maharashtra than those who are not from Maharashtra.[1] However, in recent times, the Sena has laid more emphasis on Hindutva. In the 13th Lok Sabha (1999-2004), it had 15 (out of 545) members. During that period, the party was part of the government coalition at the national level. Manohar Joshi, a Shiv Sainik, was the Speaker of Lok Sabha 2002-2004.

Shiv Sena has its employment cell Shiv Udyog Sena. Bharatiya Kamgar Sena ("Indian Worker's Army"), a labour union, is affiliated to the Shiv Sena. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena ("All India Students' Army") is the student wing of Shiv Sena.

Origins of the Shiv Sena

Template:Hindu politics

File:Shivsenakolkata.jpg
Shiv Sena poster in Kolkata, urging to "make noise" against Valentine's Day

After the incorporation of the Bombay presidency in the Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra, Mumbai gained the status of economic capital of India and attracted a large number of migrants from other states. Within a short period of time, non-Maharashtrians, especially people belonging to the Gujarati and Marwari communities, owned the majority of the industry and trade in the city.[2]. Moreover, a large number people from South Indian migrated to Mumbai during this period and soon filled a number of white-collar jobs. The Shiv Sena was thus born out of a feeling of resentment about the 'marginilization' of the native Marathi people in their own state by people who had migrated from other states.[3] The Shiv Sena especially attracted a large number of disgruntled and often unemployed Maharashtrian youth, who were pulled towards Thackeray's charged anti-migrant oratory[1].

Shift to Hindutva and Alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party

The Sena started placing more weight on the Hindutva ideology in the 1970s as the hallmark 'sons of the soil' cause was weakening.[1] With the shift to Hindutva, Thackeray increasingly made some controversial moves against Muslims and neighboring Pakistan.

The party has ruled the state in coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The SS-BJP did however lose the 2004 state assembly election. The Sena is now the main opposition party in the state. The BJP-SS combine governs the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Traditionally the main strongholds of SS have been Mumbai and the Konkan coastal areas. However, in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections the result was reversed. The Shiv Sena made inroads in the interior parts of the state, while suffering losses in Mumbai.

Party Structure

As the Pramukh (Chief) of the party Bal Thackeray takes all major decisions, and has claimed that he ran the Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government of 1995 to 1999 with what he called a 'remote control.' Activists and members of the Shiv Sena call themselves Shiv Sainiks, and carry out most of the party's grassroot work. In recent times, Thackeray does not concern himself with day-to-day activities of the party, which is run by his youngest son Uddhav Thackeray.

The recently refurbished Sena Bhavan located in the Dadar locality in Mumbai has served as the headquarters of the Sena since 1976.[4] The Sena's shakhas (local offices) spread throughout the state of Maharashtra as well as in selected locations in other states decide upon most of the local issues in their particular cities or towns.[5]

Achievements of the Shiv Sena

Supporters of the Sena have claimed that the party has benefited the Marathi Manus (Marathi man) in Mumbai[6], especially in the public sector.[2] However, the Sena has done little to solve the problem of unemployment facing a large proportion of Maharashtrian youth during its tenure, in contradiction to its ideological foundation of 'sons of the soil.'[7]

The Sena claims to have played a central role in the emancipation of 500,000 slum dwellers in the Dharavi area of Mumbai, the largest slum in Asia. [8] However, the state's policy of giving free houses to slum dwellers has been mired in controversy ever since it was introduced by the Shiv Sena-BJP government a decade ago [2] [3].

Apart from this, the Sena has been active in trying to improve infrastructure in Maharashtra, particularly in the financial capital of Mumbai. Nearly 40 flyovers in Mumbai and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway were constructed under the Shiv Sena administration, which led to a significant infrastructural boom in Mumbai. While successive State governments have been guilty of neglecting Mumbai's transport problems, the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government drastically altered the course. Moreover, by initiating a range of road schemes, the Sena unequivocally opted for private, motorised transport in preference to public transport.[4]

These moves have been a crucial factor in its increasing popularity within India and the promises of further improvement have boosted the SS's campaigns.[dubious – discuss]

Controversial Activities of the Shiv Sena

During its early years, the Sena occassionally resorted to violence and threats against people belonging to other Indian communities as part of its 'sons of the soil' ideology. In the early years of the Sena, the party's widely circulated Marathi language-weekly Marmik was instrumental in inflamming the anti-migrant sentiment in Mumbai's Maharashtrians.[9] Thackeray, then a cartoonist for the Free Press journal, initially targeted the growing number of South Indians[10] by inflammatory slogans like "lungi hatao pungi bajao" (referring to the lungi, a Marathi word for the traditional men's dress in South India)[1], and "yendu gundu" (a derogatory description of the Dravidian languages spoken by the people from South India).[11] During this period, Shiv Sainiks launched a string of attacks on the South-Indian owned Udupi restaurants that were becoming popular in Mumbai.[12] In a similar manner, Thackeray later targeted Gujaratis, Marwaris, Biharis, and people from North Indian states like Uttar Pradesh ('UPites') through his speeches.[13] Moreover, Thackeray threatened a number of local industrialists and businessmen with action unless they offered preferential employment to Maharashtrian people.[2]

File:060214 antivalentines vlrg 5a.widec.jpg
Shiv Sainiks burn Valentine's Day cards in Kolkata to protest 'vulgar' western influences on Hindu culture

In addition to its campaign against non-Maharashtrians in Mumbai, the Shiv Sena has been known the resort to violence and force in public in the name of protecting Hindutva from what it deems as corrupting western influences. The party has been involved in organized protests, pickets, market shutdowns and strikes that have been known to degenerate into violent clashes and in some instances riots. For instance, Shiv Sena activits have rampaged shops in Mumbai selling gifts for Valentine's Day as part of the party's campaign against 'vulgar' western influences on youth.[14] Likewise, in 1998, Shiv Sainiks attacked movie theatres in Mumbai screening director Deepa Mehta's Fire, a highly controversial film based on a lesbian theme on the grounds that such films violated Hindu ethos and were immoral for Hindus to watch. As a result, the screening of the movie was withdrawn. Later, members of the Sena's Varanasi branch launched violent protests against the filming of Mehta's Water, under the pretext that such films were made with the designs of intentionally defaming Hinduism by portraying Varanasi and other holy cities in an overly negative light.[15] As a result of the protests, the location for shooting the film was shifted to the neighbouring Sri Lanka.[16]

The Shiv Sena has also been accused of orchestrating violence against Muslims in name of protecting Hindutva. The Sena is widely believed to have played an active role in the riots in Mumbai following the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992 in the north-Indian holy city of Ayodhya. On 23 January 1993, the then Congress-led Government of Maharashtra appointed Justice B.N. Srikrishna (then a sitting Judge of the Bombay High Court) to head a one-man commission with the task of investigating the riots. The Commission indicted the Sena for its direct involvement in coordinating the anti-Muslim riots, and accused Thackeray of "commanding his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate by organised attacks against Muslims."[17] However, Thackeray was absolved of all criminal charges in July 2000 after seven years of judicial proceedings.[18]

Additionally, as part of their efforts to hamper any collaboration between India and the Muslim dominated Pakistan, Shiv Sainiks have resorted to damaging cricket pitchs in stadiums where the Indian and Pakistani cricket team were schedule to play. The two most prominent instances of the Sena's targeting pitches is the destruction of the pitch at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium in 1991 and the vandalizing of the Feroz Shah Kotla Grounds pitch in national capital Delhi in 1999.[19] The Sena orchestrated these activities in an atmosphere of growing tensions between the two nations. However, in an interview in 1998, Thackeray claims to have tempered his stance on many issues that the Shiv Sena had with Muslims, particularly regarding the Babri Mosque or Ramjanmabhoomi issue [20], saying: "We must look after the Muslims and treat them as part of us." In addition, some members of the Sena claim that the party does not discriminate on the basis of religion and is based on pure nationalism. However, criterion for determining enemies from friends is vague.[21]

The Sena is also involved in coordinating political violence in order to propagate its ideologies and attack opposing ideologies. For this reason, it has sometimes been described as a militant right-wing group. In the 1970s, Shiv Sena members were accused as responsible for killing Krishna Desai, CPI MLA from the Parel neighbourhood in Central Mumbai. However, the attackers were not indicted for murder.[22] On February 8, 2006, Sena workers, led allegedly by Sena's student wing, attacked the office of the Zee TV channel, ransacking and damaging the office. The attack came in response to a satirical skit titled 'Kaka mala Vachva' ( Marathi for 'Uncle, protect me'), staged during the awards function hosted by the channel at the Bandra-Kurla complex. The skit was reportedly a comment on the power tussle within the Thackeray family, which ultimately resulted in the exit of Thackeray's nephew Raj from the party some time ago.[23] On July 9, 2006, after some unidentified miscreants desecrated the statue of Meenatai (the late wife of Bal Thackeray), Shiv Sainiks blocked roads at Dadar in central Mumbai and damaged a police outpost.[24], and later launched statewide protests mired with isolated incidences of violence in Nagpur, Pune, Nashik and other cities in Maharashtra.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d ""Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  2. ^ a b c ""Sena fate: From roar to meow"". The Times of India. Retrieved 2006-08-11. Cite error: The named reference "Public sector, Threats against other communities, businesses owned especially by Guj and Marwaris/" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ ""Shiv Sena On The Threshold Of Disintegration"". The Indian Express via www.countercurrent.org. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  4. ^ ""Thackeray inaugurates new Sena bhavan"". NDTV news. Retrieved 2006-07-29.
  5. ^ ""Know Your Party: Shiv Sena"". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  6. ^ ""On the wrong track"". The Hindu. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  7. ^ ""Diversionary tactics"". The Hindu Frontline Magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  8. ^ pRediff News.
  9. ^ ""'The General' in his labyrinth"". The Hindu. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  10. ^ ""Shiv Sena Dangles Carrot For Dalits"". The Indian Express via www.countercurrent.org. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  11. ^ ""NCP attracts EC ire on campaign spoofs"". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2006-08-06.
  12. ^ ""'The General' in his labyrinth"". The Hindu. Retrieved 2006-08-11.
  13. ^ ""Profile: Bombay's militant voice"". BBC news. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
  14. ^ ""Tough love for Indian Valentines"". BBC news. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
  15. ^ ""Controversial film 'Water' cleared"". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
  16. ^ "" 'Opposition to Water was very traumatic' "". The Times of India. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
  17. ^ ""The Shiv Sena indicted"". The Hindu Frontline Magazine. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  18. ^ ""Firebrand Thackeray let off the hook"". The Asian Times online edition. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  19. ^ ""Spreading its wings"". The Hindu Frontline Magazine. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
  20. ^ [1]
  21. ^ Rediff Know your Party: Shiv Sena
  22. ^ ""Revolt In The Shiv Sena: death-knell for a fascist party?"". The Kashmir Times accessed via website of the Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières association. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
  23. ^ ""Bala Saheb justifies attack on Zee TV"". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2006-08-16.
  24. ^ ""Shiv Sainiks run amok, Maha on high alert"". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2006-07-09.
  25. ^ ""Maharashtra faces the wrath of Shiv Sena"". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2006-07-22.

See also: List of political parties in India, Politics of India

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