The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray criticized the BJP-led government and Uttar Pradesh Police for targeting activists Muhammad Junaid and Shadab Saifi, who provided daily food and water to protesters at Jantar Mantar. The editorial highlighted how UP Police detained Junaid’s family members for hours at police stations, aiming to trace the funding sources of a relief operation that fed protesters for 35 days.
Allegations were made that the state machinery tried to starve out the protest site by shutting down nearby food sources. Despite this, Junaid, with foot injuries, continued coordinating meal distribution with local Sikh langars. The Shiv Sena accused the administration of misusing state resources on humanitarian issues instead of focusing on national security concerns like terrorist attacks.
The editorial criticized the government for investigating Junaid’s meal drives while neglecting crucial security matters. It called for transparency in government and political funds, demanding audits and inquiries into funds amassed during the Covid-19 pandemic and BJP’s electoral funds. The Thackeray camp viewed the Jantar Mantar protests as a vibrant movement against authoritarianism, emphasizing the resilience of the youth involved.
