Mumbai: Mocking the arrest of NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said time has avenged his attempt to put Sena supremo Bal Thackeray behind bars during his tenure as Maharashtra Home Minister.
Bhujbal was arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged scam in construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi. A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent the 68-year-old leader in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 17.
"Time has avenged" Bhujbal's action, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said, adding the NCP leader, who left Sena in 1991, is to be blamed "for his destruction".
"When Bhujbal was the home minister, he was bent on putting Balasaheb (Thackeray) behind bars because he had given a 'Hindutva vadi' (pro-Hindu) speech that was aimed at awakening the people of the country. Even that was a case of political revenge and personal enmity," it alleged.
Bhujbal had misused government machinery ‘to create false cases’ against those who did not listen to him, so that they could be put behind bars, the Sena alleged.
The NCP had described his arrest as "vendetta politics" by the BJP. Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling alliance, said people protesting Bhujbal's arrest will soon forget about it.
"Chhagan Bhujbal was arrested a number of times while he was in the Sena. But then, he was arrested for protesting against atrocities against Marathi people. Now, when he is with the Congress and NCP, he is in jail on charges of corruption.
"He is responsible for his own destruction. People who are today protesting against his arrest will soon forget the issue and go about their usual business," he said.
Bhujbal started his political career with the Shiv Sena and was in the party for over two decades. He left the Sena in 1991 and joined the Congress.
Later, after Sharad Pawar decided to split from the Congress and form NCP, the former PWD minister went along with him.
