'Bal Thackeray Was A Cartoonist Too,' Says Navy Veteran Beaten Up Over Uddhav's Cartoons, Seeks Protection

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to condemn the attack and said “such attacks on Ex-Servicemen is completely unacceptable and deplorable. I wish Madanji a speedy recovery.”

New Delhi: Retired navy officer Madan Sharma who was brutally attacked in Mumbai for forwarding a cartoon mocking Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, has been discharged from hospital.  Addressing media persons, he said he has sought protection for himself and his family. Describing the incident he said he said “I even told them (attackers) that I am from defence, they did not listen to me.  I don’t blame the police as they are under political pressure.” “If anybody had an objection to the cartoon I shared in a group, they should have talked to me. They called me and started beating me, this is not fair,” he said. “Even Balasaheb Thackeray was a very good cartoonist, I have read so many of his cartoons in newspapers. I don’t think people should have any problem with cartoons,” he added. He said defense minister Rajnath Singh checked upon his health. Singh took to Twitter to condemn the attack and said “such attacks on Ex-Servicemen is completely unacceptable and deplorable. I wish Madanji a speedy recovery.”

Spoke to retired naval officer, Shri Madan Sharma who was attacked by hooligans in Mumbai and enquired about his health. Such attacks on Ex-Servicemen is completely unacceptable and deplorable. I wish Madanji a speedy recovery.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 12, 2020

Madan Sharma was allegedly attacked by a group of Shiv Sena workers including Kamlesh Kadam - the Sena pramukh of party's Kandivali unit - on Friday. Earlier, in the day Sharma spoke to ABP News and said that he was called to the society gate where the attackers started beating him without saying anything. He then said, they also sent cops to arrest him. "I was then supported by some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but I am not associated with any political party," the victim said. A CCTV clip of the society posted by local Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Atul Bhatkalkar shows the attackers chasing Sharma, dragging him by the collar, pulling his shirt and attacking with no intervention from the society security personnel. Shiv Sainiks get bail: At least four Shiv Sainiks who were arrested for assaulting a retired Indian Navy officer for allegedly forwarding a cartoon on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, were released on bail on Saturday, officials said. Police had made arrests of four persons -- Kadam, Sanjay Manjare, Rakesh Belvekar and Pratap Soond  on Friday,who were granted bail Saturday afternoon. ‘Completely Unacceptable & Deplorable,’ Rajnath Singh Condemns Attak On Retired Naval Officer, Enquires About His Health