Effigy Burning and the Legacy of Anand Dighe

Shiv Sena workers staged a protest on Thursday, igniting an effigy of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. The demonstration was sparked by Raut's controversial comments regarding Anand Dighe, a revered late leader of the party.

The protest occurred at Dighe's memorial site, Anand Ashram, which also served as his former office. Dighe, who was a significant figure in the undivided Shiv Sena in Thane district, is recognized as a mentor to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister and current Shiv Sena chief, Eknath Shinde.

Raut's remarks were in response to a newspaper advertisement by the Shinde-led faction for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday, which featured images of Sena founder Bal Thackeray alongside Dighe. Raut questioned the equivalence implied in the portrayal, noting Dighe was not a deputy leader, despite acknowledging him as a 'dear colleague'.