On a day of hectic political developments, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday distanced itself from the cartoon mocking Maratha community that was published in Saamana, the party mouthpiece.
Instead, the cartoonist, Sriniwas Prabhudesai, tendered an apology, saying that he had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiment. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the editor of Saamana, has so far refrained from commenting on the issue. However, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, printer-publisher of Prabodhan Prakashan that publishes Saamana, and Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana, distanced themselves from the controversy.
"This is not the stand of the Shiv Sena...this is not the stand of Saamana, the cartoonist has issued an apology," Desai said. Raut said if one looked at the Saamana regularly over the past month, it would become evident how it had supported the Maratha rallies (against rape and murder of a Maratha girl and seeking reservation in education and employment).
In the wake of the cartoon, Buldhana MP Pratap Jadhav, Mehkar MLA Sanjay Raimulkar and Sindkhed Raja MLA Dr Shashikant Khedekar had expressed their displeasure and offered to resign. However, they were convinced not to do so. "The controversy over the cartoon was unnecessary. I am an artist and not a political cartoonist. In a busy life, my intention is to put a smile on peoples face and, thus, I make cartoons," he stated. On Tuesday night, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was in Mumbai and he is learnt to have met senior BJP leaders and ministers.
CM meets governor
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Governor C H Vidyasagar Rao and discussed various issues. "The meeting lasted for around 45 minutes," Raj Bhavan sources said. However, they refused to divulge whether the Maratha reservation issue was discussed. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Cong) also met the Governor and discussed the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district. Former chief minister Narayan Rane also met the Governor separately. The meeting was described as a courtesy call.
Advocate Vishnu Navale filed an FIR against Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and the cartoonist. The case was filed in Nanal Peth police station under various IPC Sections, including 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (issuing statements conducive to public mischief), 500 (defamation), 292 and 109.
Instead, the cartoonist, Sriniwas Prabhudesai, tendered an apology, saying that he had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiment. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the editor of Saamana, has so far refrained from commenting on the issue. However, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, printer-publisher of Prabodhan Prakashan that publishes Saamana, and Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana, distanced themselves from the controversy.
"This is not the stand of the Shiv Sena...this is not the stand of Saamana, the cartoonist has issued an apology," Desai said. Raut said if one looked at the Saamana regularly over the past month, it would become evident how it had supported the Maratha rallies (against rape and murder of a Maratha girl and seeking reservation in education and employment).
In the wake of the cartoon, Buldhana MP Pratap Jadhav, Mehkar MLA Sanjay Raimulkar and Sindkhed Raja MLA Dr Shashikant Khedekar had expressed their displeasure and offered to resign. However, they were convinced not to do so. "The controversy over the cartoon was unnecessary. I am an artist and not a political cartoonist. In a busy life, my intention is to put a smile on peoples face and, thus, I make cartoons," he stated. On Tuesday night, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was in Mumbai and he is learnt to have met senior BJP leaders and ministers.
CM meets governor
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Governor C H Vidyasagar Rao and discussed various issues. "The meeting lasted for around 45 minutes," Raj Bhavan sources said. However, they refused to divulge whether the Maratha reservation issue was discussed. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Cong) also met the Governor and discussed the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district. Former chief minister Narayan Rane also met the Governor separately. The meeting was described as a courtesy call.
Advocate Vishnu Navale filed an FIR against Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and the cartoonist. The case was filed in Nanal Peth police station under various IPC Sections, including 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (issuing statements conducive to public mischief), 500 (defamation), 292 and 109.
On a day of hectic political developments, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday distanced itself from the cartoon mocking Maratha community that was published in Saamana, the party mouthpiece.
Instead, the cartoonist, Sriniwas Prabhudesai, tendered an apology, saying that he had no intention to hurt anyone’s sentiment. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the editor of Saamana, has so far refrained from commenting on the issue. However, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, printer-publisher of Prabodhan Prakashan that publishes Saamana, and Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana, distanced themselves from the controversy.
"This is not the stand of the Shiv Sena...this is not the stand of Saamana, the cartoonist has issued an apology,” Desai said. Raut said if one looked at the Saamana regularly over the past month, it would become evident how it had supported the Maratha rallies (against rape and murder of a Maratha girl and seeking reservation in education and employment).
In the wake of the cartoon, Buldhana MP Pratap Jadhav, Mehkar MLA Sanjay Raimulkar and Sindkhed Raja MLA Dr Shashikant Khedekar had expressed their displeasure and offered to resign. However, they were convinced not to do so. "The controversy over the cartoon was unnecessary. I am an artist and not a political cartoonist. In a busy life, my intention is to put a smile on people's face and, thus, I make cartoons,” he stated. On Tuesday night, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was in Mumbai and he is learnt to have met senior BJP leaders and ministers.
CM meets governor
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Governor C H Vidyasagar Rao and discussed various issues. "The meeting lasted for around 45 minutes,” Raj Bhavan sources said. However, they refused to divulge whether the Maratha reservation issue was discussed. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Cong) also met the Governor and discussed the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district. Former chief minister Narayan Rane also met the Governor separately. The meeting was described as a courtesy call.
Advocate Vishnu Navale filed an FIR against Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and the cartoonist. The case was filed in Nanal Peth police station under various IPC Sections, including 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (issuing statements conducive to public mischief), 500 (defamation), 292 and 109.
Instead, the cartoonist, Sriniwas Prabhudesai, tendered an apology, saying that he had no intention to hurt anyone’s sentiment. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, the editor of Saamana, has so far refrained from commenting on the issue. However, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, printer-publisher of Prabodhan Prakashan that publishes Saamana, and Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamana, distanced themselves from the controversy.
"This is not the stand of the Shiv Sena...this is not the stand of Saamana, the cartoonist has issued an apology,” Desai said. Raut said if one looked at the Saamana regularly over the past month, it would become evident how it had supported the Maratha rallies (against rape and murder of a Maratha girl and seeking reservation in education and employment).
In the wake of the cartoon, Buldhana MP Pratap Jadhav, Mehkar MLA Sanjay Raimulkar and Sindkhed Raja MLA Dr Shashikant Khedekar had expressed their displeasure and offered to resign. However, they were convinced not to do so. "The controversy over the cartoon was unnecessary. I am an artist and not a political cartoonist. In a busy life, my intention is to put a smile on people's face and, thus, I make cartoons,” he stated. On Tuesday night, Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari was in Mumbai and he is learnt to have met senior BJP leaders and ministers.
CM meets governor
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Governor C H Vidyasagar Rao and discussed various issues. "The meeting lasted for around 45 minutes,” Raj Bhavan sources said. However, they refused to divulge whether the Maratha reservation issue was discussed. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Cong) also met the Governor and discussed the issue of malnutrition in Palghar district. Former chief minister Narayan Rane also met the Governor separately. The meeting was described as a courtesy call.
Advocate Vishnu Navale filed an FIR against Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and the cartoonist. The case was filed in Nanal Peth police station under various IPC Sections, including 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups), 505 (issuing statements conducive to public mischief), 500 (defamation), 292 and 109.