Shiv Sena activists attack Indian TV channels

[Imran Khan]

Shiv Sena activists attack Indian TV channel
Updated at: 1758 PST, Friday, November 20, 2009
MUMBAI: Activists of Shiv Sena Friday ransacked the office of a Marathi news channel in suburban Mumbai, assaulting journalists and damaging furniture.

The attackers barged into the IBN-Lokmat office in Vikhroli and thrashed the staff members.

The news channel claimed the attackers were shouting slogans in support of the party and its Chief Bal Thackeray.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised strict action against those involved in the attack. "Nobody will be spared…such things will not be tolerated," Chavan said.

 

[Imran Khan]

SHIV SENA ATTACKS IBN OFFICES IN MUMBAI, PUNE

Mumbai: A group of 20-25 Shiv Sena activists attacked journalists and damaged property at the offices of IBN7 and IBN Lokmat, the Hindi and Marathi news channels of the IBN Network, in north-east Mumbai’s Vikhroli on Friday.


Several IBN Network journalists and other employees were beaten up and their clothes torn by the group. The attackers barged into the office at around 1600 hrs IST, slapped a woman receptionist and told employees that they would not accept reports criticizing the Shiv Sena.


Armed with sticks and bats, the attackers damaged furniture and fittings, glass partitions, OB (outdoor broadcasting) vans and electronic equipment. They threw a chair at Nikhil Wagle, IBN Lokmat's editor-in-chief, and tried to punch him.


The Mumbai Police claimed they have arrested seven Shiv Sena workers for the attack.


Eight alleged Shiv Sena workers were arrested in Pune for damaging an IBN7 OB van and pelting stones at the channel’s office in the city.


Tell us: Are journalists a soft target?

See Pics: Journalists attacked, IBN office damaged

Watch Live TV: IBN offices attacked in Mumbai


Sandeep Chavan, a journalist with IBN Lokmat, said the attackers in Mumbai told employees they were looking for Wagle and wanted to “teach him a lesson”. Chavan said the attackers were armed with iron rods, baseball bats and cricket wickets.


Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan told Network18 the attackers will be punished.


“We had no idea that such a thing was going to happen. Whoever is responsible for this will be severely dealt with. Nobody has the right to assault journalists,” said the Chief Minister.


“You will see action soon,” Ashok Chavan told Network18.


Senior journalist Kumar Ketkar, whose house was attacked by Shiv Sena activists in January 2008, said political organisations attacked the media and others because they felt they can get away with it.


“This must be condemned by the entire media. Political institutions and the government of Maharashtra should be held responsible for stopping such acts,” said Ketkar, executive editor of Marathi daily Loksatta.


The reason for the attacks is still not clear. The two channels had taken a tough stand against intolerant politics in the state. IBN Lokmat, the number one Marathi channel, has been vocal against the violence in the name of Marathi pride being witnessed in Maharashtra.




SHIV SENA ATTACKS IBN OFFICES IN MUMBAI, PUNE

 

[Spring Onion]

why Shiv Sena is more sensitive about language issue???

Can anyone from India explains seriously and logically.

 

[gubbi]

why Shiv Sena is more sensitive about language issue???

Can anyone from India explains seriously and logically.

Because they are morons and they have nothing better to do. They blame everyone else but themselves for their incompetence and inability to achieve anything with their lives. They are a group of idiots of the first order! Most of their cadre are semi-literate douchebags who cannot achieve anything worthwhile in their lives and as they say, birds of a feather flock together!

Their days of hooliganism are numbered. People, read common man, is fed up of their antics and they are losing their main political base, hence such tactics to keep themselves in the public media glare. Unless they reform and bring forth real issues instead of pitting everyone else against marathas/mumbaikars they are gonna be a spent force in a couple of years and they know it!

 

[Spring Onion]

Because they are morons and they have nothing better to do. They blame everyone else but themselves for their incompetence and inability to achieve anything with their lives. They are a group of idiots of the first order! Most of their cadre are semi-literate douchebags who cannot achieve anything worthwhile in their lives and as they say, birds of a feather flock together!

Their days of hooliganism are numbered. People, read common man, is fed up of their antics and they are losing their main political base, hence such tactics to keep themselves in the public media glare. Unless they reform and bring forth real issues instead of pitting everyone else against marathas/mumbaikars they are gonna be a spent force in a couple of years and they know it!

i asked for historical background for their obsession with language issue.

why they are more concerned over this language issue??

 

[gubbi]

i asked for historical background for their obsession with language issue.

why they are more concerned over this language issue??

It has got nothing to do with the language issue, per se. Bal Tharackery was against the success of Gujjus and other north Indians in Mumbai. He presumed that the Marathas (who 'co-incidentally' speak the Marathi language) were given the short end of the stick in the bargain and launched the Shiv Sena to "fight" against this presumed injustice!!

You also need to remember that Indian states were formed on a linguistic basis to make administration easier!

 

[Spring Onion]

!!

You also need to remember that Indian states were formed on a linguistic basis to make administration easier!

dont you think so it was a mistake???

 

[gubbi]

dont you think so it was a mistake???

Actually no. It really helps ease the administrative processes. India is a huge country with a huge population which is very diverse. Putting different types of major population types into a single province or state would have complicated things.
Initially authorities wanted to form provinces - huge chunks of land North Central South etc. But better sense prevailed and they formed states on a linguistic basis, Yes there are a few kinks in the system leading to incidents, but on the whole it works better when considering the administrative and logistic pov.

 

[mr42O]

Mumbai: A group of 20-25 Shiv Sena activists attacked journalists and damaged property at the offices of IBN Lokmat and IBN7, the Marathi and Hindi news channels of the IBN Network, in north-east Mumbai’s Vikhroli on Friday.


Several IBN Network journalists and other employees were beaten up and their clothes torn by the group. The attackers barged into the office at around 1600 hrs IST, slapped a woman receptionist and told employees that they would not accept reports criticizing the Shiv Sena.


Armed with sticks and bats, the attackers damaged furniture and fittings, glass partitions, OB (outdoor broadcasting) vans and electronic equipment. They threw a chair at Nikhil Wagle, IBN Lokmat's editor-in-chief, and tried to punch him.


"The attack was preplanned, they had come armed with sticks and iron rods for creating the mayhem in our offices. They hurled a chair at me," Wagle told media persons.


The Mumbai Police claimed they had arrested seven Shiv Sena workers for the attack.


Eight Shiv Sena workers were arrested in Pune for damaging an IBN7 OB van and pelting stones at the channel’s office in the city.


Sandeep Chavan, a journalist with IBN Lokmat, said the attackers in Mumbai told employees they were looking for Wagle and wanted to “teach him a lesson”. Chavan said the attackers were armed with iron rods, baseball bats and cricket wickets.


Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan told Network18 the attackers will be punished.


“We had no idea that such a thing was going to happen. Whoever is responsible for this will be severely dealt with. Nobody has the right to assault journalists,” said the Chief Minister.


“You will see action soon,” Ashok Chavan told Network18.


Senior journalist Kumar Ketkar, whose house was attacked by Shiv Sena activists in January 2008, said political organisations attacked the media and others because they felt they can get away with it.


“This must be condemned by the entire media. Political institutions and the government of Maharashtra should be held responsible for stopping such acts,” said Ketkar, executive editor of Marathi daily Loksatta.


The two channels have taken a tough stand against intolerant politics in the state. IBN Lokmat, the number one Marathi channel, has been vocal against the violence in the name of Marathi pride being witnessed in Maharashtra.


Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, executive editor of party newspaper Saamna, admitted to the attacks and called them justified.


Rahul Narvekar, head of Shiv Sena’s legal cell, refused to aplogise for the attacks and said his party was a defender of Marathi Asmita.

 

[gubbi]

Repost:

Mods, merge the threads please.

Posters, please check if topics already exist. Thanks.

 

[Stumper]

i asked for historical background for their obsession with language issue.

why they are more concerned over this language issue??

Let me try, you might not comprehend... but will give it a shot.

Marathi is a language usually associated with people residing in state of maharashtra. As per them, this are the original inhabitants of the state. So technically, though i have been born and raised in Mumbai, i will not qualify as a native (this was way back in 70's , remember, as of now they consider all "local born" or "by native dialect - marathi" as natives)

SS came into political limelight(in 70's i guess), by asking all non-marathi speaking people to pack bag's. They claimed that this outsider's were responsible for the locals/natives not getting enough employment's. Now this seemed fancy to those who really did not have any employment (Mind you, in 70's, jobs were scarce for anyone) and of some lingual bigot's (and gullible people).

That strategy, of being self proclaimed defender of Maharashtrian culture, won them election.

Ever since, SS, has been using that as a trump card. Often resorting to voilence (against Valentine day celebration, forcing Shop's to have sign board in Marathi language, etc). By using such means, they often potray their muscle and potray image of being champion of Marathi speaking people's cause.

This used to work in 70's ... but not anymore. They have been repeatedly beaten in local and national election's. Even marathi speaking community have been not receptive to SS antic's.

Usually, when government tries to take action against them, they resorts to strikes (or Bandh's), disrupting common life. And jailing them, makes them a hero (or marytyr ) .. so governments usually avoids any stern action them.

 

[Spring Onion]

thats why i consider bajrangis better than shiv's people

 

[Goodperson]

thats why i consider bajrangis better than shiv's people

Kahani mein twist ?

 

[Srinivas]

thats why i consider bajrangis better than shiv's people

Shiv sena was not formed based on religion or worship it has more to do with maratha people.

 

[Goodperson]

dont you think so it was a mistake???

Yes dividing states into Linguistic lines was a mistake the idea was to preserve local culture and rich heritage of language. But that does create problem in integration. These is huge gap between have and have-nots, urban and rural etc. People migrate and locals find difficult to get jobs. There is sense of anger and Local parties like MNS take advantage of it. But it is not that they are always wrong but the method they apply many times is wrong.