FIR against Milind Deora for comments on Shiv Sena

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai,  April 19

The Election Commission of India on Friday filed a First Information Report against Milind Deora, Congress party’s candidate from South Mumbai for violating the model code of conduct during a campaign speech earlier this month.

Addressing gold and diamond merchants at Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar, Deora had said that the Shiv Sena was against minorities.

“The Shiv Sena insulted the Jain community a few years ago when its activists cooked meat outside your temples during Paryushan. Remember this when you go out to cast your votes,” Deora is quoted as saying.

Shortly afterwards sitting MP from South Mumbai Arvind Sawant who belongs to the Shiv Sena, filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Deora. The poll monitoring body then issued show-cause notices to the Congress candidate.

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant later told reporters on Friday that his party had not cooked meat outside Jain temples.

“We will never to such a thing. Milind Deora is playing politics,” Sawant said.

With Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray extending support to Deora, the Shiv Sena also released a video in which the Congress candidate is seen criticizing the MNS leader for protesting the meat ban outside a building occupied by members of Jain community.

Another shot showed MNS activists campaigning for Deora ahead of the elections. A voice over said it was the MNS which had protested the proposed ban on sale of meat during the eight-day Jain festival of Paryushan. Then the song ‘Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate’ plays in the background.