The Shiv Sena has reacted harshly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments condemning the Dadri lynching, saying that while the party "respects him for Godhra”, his reaction was unfortunate. Referring to the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat that took place under Modi’s watch as chief minister, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Modi had spoken not as the man they knew, but as the Prime Minister.

Earlier in the day, Modi had finally talked directly about the Dadri killing, in which a mob murdered a man they suspected of eating beef, and called it “sad and undersirable”, but insisted the central government had no role in the matter. The PM also said it was unwarranted that concerts by Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali had been cancelled in Mumbai and Pune following pressure from the Shiv Sena. Modi was speaking to Bengali daily Anandabazaar Patrika.

What we know so far:

  • Modi had made an oblique reference to the lynching at a rally last week, but this is the first time he addressed the issue directly.
  • Relations between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, who are allies in Maharashtra, have been growing increasingly tense. On Monday, senior BJP leaders including LK Advani lashed out at the Shiv Sena for attacking ex-party stategist Sudheendra Kulkarni with black ink for launching a book by KM Kasuri, a former Pakistan foreign minister.
  • The Shiv Sena, however, defended its actions, and has since kept up a barrage of criticism against the BJP.
  • BJP leaders have made several contentious remarks about the lynching in Dadri on September 28 , which quickly spiralled into a national controversy, drawing widespread outrage.