Love Jihad morcha needed when BJP at helm’

questioned the need for such a protest, when the “so-called Hindutvavadi government” is in power at the Centre and Maharashtra. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena said the BJP plays its “trump card” whenever it feels jolts of defeat. Now they have begun the game of playing the Hindu-Muslim card, it said. The ‘Hindu Jan Akrosh Morcha’ against “Love Jihad” demanded anti-conversion laws in Maharashtra. They also asked for a crackdown on land grabs in the name of religion.

“There is a so-called fierce Hindutvavadi government in the state as well at the Centre. Then how come your (the ones who took out the rally) Hindutva is in danger?” questioned the editorial.

“With Modi-Shah at the Centre, there is a Ramrajya and this state is a heaven for Hindus this is what their (supporters of the BJP) people say. So it is surprising that there was still the ‘Aakrosh’ morcha (rally),” it said.

The Saamana further said taking out such a march would have been logical had the Muslim League been (ruling) the Centre and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) government in Maharashtra.

“If there is a question of Love Jihad or forced conversion then there should be a strong law. But whenever elections are around the corner there is a talk of ‘Hindutva being in danger’ in BJP-ruled states,” it said. If the ‘Aakrosh’ morcha was just for elections, then it is dishonesty towards Hindutva, it said. It also took a dig at the BJP-led Centre, saying conferring Padma Vibhushan on “Maulana” Mulayam Singh, the late Samajwadi Party patriarch, is an “insult to sacrifices of thousands of karsevaks of the Ram Mandir movement”.