Mohan Sachdev – the owner of Karachi Sweets in Mumbai’s Mulund Colony is the latest victim of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) “nationalism”. He is set to rechristen his shop as Sri Krishna Sweets. Asked by MNS workers to change the name of his shop, Sachdev feels it is wise to succumb and survive than fight a losing battle.
On January 16, a couple of local MNS representatives had handed over a letter to Sachdev, asking him to comply with their demand in 10 days. In two days, a sheet of paper covered the shop’s name. A police van also stationed itself opposite the shop and Deputy Commissioner of Police Dilip Sawant met Sachdev and assured him police protection. After being directed by a police official, Sachdev grudgingly removed the paper sheet covering his shop’s board on January 23, but he maintained that he will rename his shop. In the evening, the police arrested six MNS representatives including Rajendra Deshmukh who had signed the letter. “We had given the letter to Sachdev and notified the police as well. Our motive was to discourage any Pakistani symbols, especially after 26/11. However, they have arrested us even when we didn’t do anything,” Deshmukh said.