The Shiv Sena attacked its ally BJP over the issue of notes ban and described it as the "worst regime in 10,000 years". In an editorial, the Sena claimed that instead of eradicating black money, the notes ban measure has only caused distress to the middle class, poor and unemployed.

 

Referring to a report of a woman stripping off in anger in front of the RBI regional office in Delhi after failing to get some old notes exchanged, the Sena said the plight of the hapless mother looked like a "government-sponsored Nirbhaya tragedy".

 

The woman, who was with her child, was in tears on Wednesday when turned away by guards after repeated requests to exchange her junked notes. When the guards tried to forcefully move her away from the entrance, the woman in disgust took off her clothes and sat topless in front of the iron gate, stunning the onlookers as well as the security personnel.

 

"When a woman in distress sits on a street in Delhi and condemns the government, it is like government-sponsored Nirbhaya tragedy," the Shiv Sena said through an editorial in their newspaper, 'Saamana'.

 

"If the government cannot see and understand the suffering of this woman, then such a ruthless and deaf regime would not have been in existence in the last 10,000 years," said an editorial in Saamna.

 

"If you term the act of this woman as nationalism, you need a Talibani doctor to treat your brains. Such atrocities against women happen only in Talibani regimes," the Sena said.

 

The Shiv Sena also attacked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said, "We want to ask the Chief Minister, whose side are you on; demonetisation or this helpless woman."

 

Training its guns on Mr Fadnavis for supporting demonetisation, the ally said, "The CM’s argument was perfect. But if his stomach does not churn on seeing the plight of the woman before RBI then it is his helplessness. Just making noise against corruption and exploiting the poor is not eradicating corruption,” it said.

Sena was referring to the CM’s statement in which he said demonetisation should not be criticised as only a few with black money were suffering because of the decision.

 

Relations between the BJP and Shiv Sena soured ever since the parties clashed over seat sharing in the 2014 Maharashtra assembly polls. The Shiv Sena had also marched with Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and other opposition parties on November 16 against the notes ban.