Mumbai: Amid the ongoing nationwide protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), Shiv Sena on Saturday made a stringent statement saying that Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan must be thrown out of the country. “Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslims who have entered the country should be thrown out, there is no doubt about it”, Sena wrote in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana. 


Sena, however, maintained that the amended citizenship law has loopholes that need to be addressed. The party made the statement in the wake of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's remarks that his party would carry out a big morcha on February 9 in Mumbai in opposition to those who oppose the CAA and NRC.

In its mouthpiece, the party attacked Raj Thackeray for his change of stand with respect to the Citizenship Law and his shift towards Hindutva. "Yesterday, the MNS said that they support the CAA. However, just a month back, they were against this act," Sena said.

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"Our party has never given up its ideology of Hindutva and also worked for Marathi people. This is the reason why people in the state have accepted us," the party added. The Sena also questioned whether Thackeray's change of stand will be accepted by the people or not.

"Some people use the name of Hindutva for their benefit, but even if some party does that we have the large heart to accept them. Go ahead if possible," the party added further.

"14 years back Raj Thackeray formed a party for the Marathi ideology but now it has changed its track to Hindutva. When Raj Thackeray during his speech said welcome my Hindu brothers and sisters it was demanded by BJP. MNS could not get anything and now also it cannot get anything," Sena said accusing the MNS chief of making Hindutva his prime agenda.

In December last year, Raj Thackeray had said that the illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh should be thrown out of the country irrespective of their religion. He had said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is uncalled for as it will increase the burden on India which is allegedly not able to cater to the needs of its own people.

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Further, Sena also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for stalling development in Maharashtra when it was in power. "Things which BJP could not do it in five years, the Maha Vikas Aghadi did it in 50 days. They can form a government with Mehbooba Mufti, but here we can't form a government with Congress and NCP. We are in government for the Common Minimum Program. For the betterment of Maharashtra," it said.

Sena, earlier this week, also said there have been attempts to muzzle dissenting voices and this is one of the reasons for India slipping in the 2019 Democracy Index's global ranking. The editorial mouthpiece of Sena said a slowdown in economy gives rise to unrest and instability, and this was getting reflected in the prevailing situation in the country.

The incumbent Maharashtra government is ruled by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in alliance with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and Congress.