Shiv Sena our 'true well wisher': say winner Muslim candidates

Mumbai: Shiv Sena, which is identified with the 'Hindutva' ideology, has managed to make inroads in city's two Muslim pockets with the winning candidates calling the saffron party as their "true well wisher".

The party put up a decent show by winning on 84 seats in the fiercely contested Mumbai civic body polls. The party had fielded five Muslim candidates, out of which two have won from Behrampada in Bandra locality and a ward representing suburban Amboli and Jogeshwari.

Sena candidate Haji Halim Khan (35), who won from ward no. 96 in Behrampada in Bandra (East) alleged that the projection that the party is 'anti-Muslim' is the "handiwork of certain sections of people".

"Saying that Sena is anti-Muslim is nothing but crap and Sena's projection of Muslims in a bad light is a handiwork of certain sections of the society. Rather, Sena has always been helpful in sorting out our problems. They are our true well-wisher," he said.

"I can recollect that one of our prominent mosques came up only when Balasaheb Thackerayji helped," he said.

A tour operator by profession, Khan's win has facilitated Shiv Sena register its first victory in the Muslim-dominated ward, which has been a Congress bastion.

He charged Congress of treating the community as vote bank.

"Congress considers Muslim merely a vote-bank and nothing more than that, while Shiv Sena encourage every Muslim to be faithful towards the country. Balasaheb always praised to 'sachche musalman' (true Muslims)," added Khan.

Sahida Khan (52), who has won from ward no. 64 to represent suburban Amboli and Jogeshwari, also echoed the views of Khan and said Sena has always helped people from the community whosoever has approached with a genuine problem.

"Hindutva a shadow, no one can deny and we need to live under it. There is nothing wrong when our party head says so. Most importantly, my party has always helped always been helpful to those from the community who have approached with a genuine problem," Shahida said.