Shiv Sena (UBT) workers stage 'begging protest' against MPs who joined Shinde faction in Jalna

JALNA: Shiv Sena (UBT) workers on Wednesday staged a “begging protest” in Jalna city of Maharashtra against six party MPs who recently joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde.The protest was held at the city bus stand and nearby areas, where workers carried donation boxes and sought Re 1 contributions from the public, news agency PTI reported.Local Sena (UBT) office-bearers said the money collected would be sent to the rebel MPs as a symbolic gesture. Protesters also raised slogans against the legislators who quit the party.Jalna district Sena (UBT) chief Manish Srivastava said the collected funds would be forwarded to the MPs.Six MPs, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, resigned from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena on Monday and joined the Shinde-led faction.Srivastava alleged that democracy was being undermined and opposition parties had been systematically weakened over the past 12 years, PTI reported.He said the party would continue its protests until issues concerning farmers and the general public are addressed.(With agency inputs)