The Hindu, 16 July 2010
Shiv Sena targets Kannadigas
Special Correspondent
Issues veiled threat in party mouthpiece Saamna
Warns Karnataka Chief Minister to watch his step
MUMBAI: An editorial in the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Saamna has issued a veiled threat to Kannadigas in Maharashtra, saying that the Marathi people were slow to react, but once they do, it would be difficult to stop them.
The editorial said that when the Sena was launched in 1966, the first targets of its ire were South Indians who ran the Udupi hotels in Mumbai.
Warning Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to watch his step, it condemned the lathi-charge on Marathi speaking people in the border areas, and regretted the “silence' from the ruling parties in Maharashtra.
The editorial said the Kannad Rakshak Vedika was behind the acts of vandalism and burning buses, but that it was not acting alone.
It said: “What if in response to the attacks on the Marathi people in Karnataka, the Kannadigas here were attacked? You will be wiped out. There were more Kannadigas in Maharashtra than Marathi-speaking people in Karnataka. The numerous Udupi hotels were run by Kannadigas and their money was sent back to assuage Karnataka's hunger. What if the local people retaliated?
“The Karnataka buses, which come here every day, can also be targeted. In Maharashtra, there are stones and people with strong wrists, but they are not used on innocent people and we are not going to stoop so low. But if the attacks in Karnataka continue, the people of Maharashtra cannot be silent, and once that happens nothing can stop them.”
“Don't play with fire,” the editorial warned. “The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party are sitting tight, but even if the Shiv Sena seems silent today, it is calm before the storm. The Marathi manoos is slow to anger but once they are furious, then they don't calm down easily. And this should be remembered by the people in Belgaum who are attacking Marathi people.”
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