A fresh political storm brews in Maharashtra over Nashik’s ‘corporate jihad’ allegations, with Shiv Sena (UBT) firing salvos through its daily Saamana. The paper accuses a new breed of opportunistic Hindutva advocates who don the saffron robe seasonally, especially during elections.
At the heart is a multinational IT company’s Muslim staff accused of enticing Hindu women via fake job promises, exploiting them sexually, and pushing conversions. BJP heavyweights Nitesh Rane and Gopichand Padalkar spearheaded agitations, decrying a ‘frightening corporate love jihad.’
Saamana concedes the outrage over such abuses is justified but lambasts the leaders for weaponizing it. ‘These political clowns yell “unite Hindus against jihad” while turning a blind eye to local Hindu frauds like Ashok Kharat, who ruined countless lives in Nashik itself,’ it charges.
The editorial highlights the double standards: Muslim culprits trigger jihad campaigns and SIT calls; Hindu baba offenders prompt pleas not to ‘defame Hindu society.’ This selective amnesia, it says, poisons public discourse.
As protests rage, Saamana urges a religion-neutral approach to women’s protection. ‘Godavari’s waters now reflect the greater sins of these fake Hindutva guardians,’ it warns. The piece paints a broader picture of Maharashtra’s fractured polity, where communal narratives eclipse real accountability.
