Conspiracy to divide Hindu society will not be tolerated: Manish Sahni
JAMMU, Jun 20: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Jammu & Kashmir unit has strongly condemned the controversial, provocative, and irresponsible remarks made by Maulana Sajjad Nomani, a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, regarding the unity and identity of Hindu society. During a special meeting held at the party’s state office, Shiv Sena (UBT) J&K President Manish Sahni described the statement as a direct attack on the country’s social harmony, cultural heritage, and national integrity, and demanded strict legal action against Nomani.
Addressing the media, Sahni said, “Maulana Nomani’s claim that Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Tamils, and Lingayats are not Hindus is not only contrary to historical facts, constitutional values, and social realities, but is also an insult to the faith, identity, and dignity of millions of Indians. Such a statement appears to be a well-planned and dangerous attempt to divide Hindu society on the basis of caste, region, and sect.”
Sahni further stated, “From the Kashmiri Pandits of the north to the Tamils of Kanyakumari, from the Neo-Buddhists of Nagpur to the Lingayat community of Karnataka, our shared cultural heritage and national identity bind us together. We were one, we are one, and we will remain one. No self-proclaimed religious leader has the authority to determine the religious identity of millions of people or issue certificates defining who belongs to which faith.”
He said that such inflammatory and divisive statements are detrimental to social harmony and national unity. Freedom of expression cannot be used as a shield to spread discord in society or to question the religious and cultural identity of communities.
Sahni urged the Central Government and the concerned investigating agencies to take the matter seriously, conduct a thorough investigation into Maulana Sajjad Nomani’s statement, and initiate the strictest legal action permissible under the law. He also demanded that Nomani issue a public apology to the people of the country for his remarks.