In a widely shared video on social media, Shiv Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar was seen at the Mumbai shop telling the owner to change the name “to something in Marathi”.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, days after a Shiv Sena leader was caught on camera asking the owner of the Karachi Sweets in Mumbai to change the shop’s name, triggering massive controversy, has now said that “Karachi will one day be a part of India.”
In a widely shared video on social media, Shiv Sena leader Nitin Nandgaokar was seen at the Mumbai shop telling the owner to change the name “to something in Marathi”. However, the Shiv Sena had distanced itself from the debacle, with MP Sanjay Raut clarifying that Mr Nandgaokar’s comment is not the party’s official stance.
When asked about the controversy by a reporter on Saturday, Devendra Fadnavis said: “We are the people who believe in an ‘Akhand Bharat’… We believe Karachi will one day be a part of India.”
Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, responding to the BJP leader’s comments, told news agency ANI: “The way Devendra ji has said that time will come Karachi will be the part of India.. we have been saying that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should be merged. If the Berlin wall can fall, why can’t India, Pakistan and Bangladesh come together? If BJP wishes to merge these three countries and make a single country, we will welcome it definitely.”
Mr Nandgaokar, in a nearly one-minute long clip that went viral, was seen telling the shop owner: “I hate the name Karachi. The city in Pakistan is a hub of terrorists. You can name your ancestors in the banner… I pay my respects to them. You came from Pakistan but this is your home. You’ll have to do it (change the name). We will help you with the business. I will give you time… change the name to something in Marathi.”
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
