Mumbai, August 11: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) asserted on Tuesday that the attack on Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is not merely an assault on an individual political figure but a direct strike against the democratic fabric of our republic.
In its editorial published in ‘Saamana’, the party stated, “A mob armed with stones, sticks, and iron rods surrounded her vehicle, seemingly aiming to eliminate a strong opposition voice. Her survival is merely a matter of chance, but this incident reveals a horrifying truth: the state of political violence in West Bengal has crossed all acceptable limits.”
The editorial further indicated that since recent political shifts in the state, leaders from the Trinamool Congress, including MPs Abhishek Banerjee and Kalyan Banerjee, have been consistently targeted. The contradiction in the ruling party’s approach is evident.
The piece continued, highlighting that while the central leadership warmly welcomes defectors, leaders who build political foundations in the state are becoming victims of life-threatening attacks. When the central government previously justified its interventions by citing the breakdown of law and order in West Bengal, it raises the question: Is this current environment of unchecked hostility and state-sanctioned arbitrariness their definition of law and order?
The editorial noted that during the assembly elections, the central administration deployed millions of paramilitary forces under the pretext of ensuring a fair process and maintaining order. Today, as targeted political violence escalates, that readiness is conspicuously absent. The reluctance to deploy necessary central forces to restore peace reveals a troubling double standard. When former chief ministers, current MPs, and elected representatives repeatedly fall victim to street violence, it reflects a complete breakdown of institutional governance.
Moreover, the response from the opposition leadership in the state is equally concerning. Presenting a violent attack on a senior political figure merely as a ‘fight between the public and a political party’ is both irresponsible and dangerous. Such rhetoric legitimizes mob violence and indicates a shirking of state responsibility. Based on this flawed reasoning, any public protest or grievance, including youth demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, could be misrepresented as a personal conflict between citizens and the Prime Minister, diverting the state from its fundamental duty to maintain order.
Shiv Sena, led by Uddhav Thackeray, argued that in a functioning democracy, electoral victories and defeats are determined at the ballot box. Commitment to restraint, accountability, and constitutional norms is essential for political power. The current situation, where dissent is suppressed through extreme violence, student movements are crushed, and opposition leaders face constant physical threats, points towards an environment where non-governmental organizations feel emboldened to enforce political will.
The Thackeray faction claimed that if the opposition is viewed as a physical enemy to be eliminated rather than an essential pillar of governance, democracy cannot survive. Allowing violent elements to operate without punishment is not a display of power; it signals a descent into chaos that will ultimately weaken the very institutions formed to uphold the nation.
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