‘I am proud of it’: Amit Thackeray after FIR over removal of PM Modi’s portrait

Pune police registered a criminal case against Amit Thackeray on Monday, sparking controversy after he removed a portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a government college. Thackeray, son of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, defended his actions, stating he was proud of removing the photo. He visited Government Polytechnic College, Shivajinagar, as part of a student interaction and membership program.

After the visit, he asked supporters to remove the portrait of the Prime Minister hanging on an office wall. Amit told reporters, "Yes, I got the portrait of the Prime Minister hanging directly beside the portraits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar removed." The BJP condemned Thackeray's actions, calling for an FIR against him.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sushma Andhare criticized the BJP, stating Thackeray did not declare the photo should be entirely removed, only that it shouldn't be placed next to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Police booked Thackeray and 25 other MNS workers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Maharashtra Police Act after the incident.