Pandurang Mhaske

Mumbai: Mumbai’s favourite snack, vada pav, is now in the midst of a caste war. Shiv Sena’s shiv vada will face the Republican Party of India’s (RPI’s) bhim vada.

RPI leader Ramdas Athavale announced on Saturday that the party would soon launch a bhim vada to provide livelihood to the Marathi backward class youth. Earlier, Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray had announced the scheme of the shiv vada pav and how it would similarly provide a means of livelihood to Marathi youth. After this announcement, the vada pav has been caught in a political fight. NCP leader and deputy chief minister RR Patil has criticised the scheme and feels that it would insult the great Maratha warrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Athavale believes that the vada pav could act as a unifying factor for Indians. “All Mumbaikars like vada pav. So, the vada pav will ease tension and maintain harmony between North Indians and Maharashtrians. Our bhim vada is to provide employment opportunities to the backward class youth as well as give Mumbaikars a taste of the vada pav,” Athavale added.

Athavale also welcomed Lalu Prasad Yadav to come for the chhat puja in Mumbai. He had a suggestion for Raj Thackeray too - go to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and celebrate Ganeshotsav there.  He feels that this will create a good and healthy relation between Indians. Athavale also appealled to Raj Thackeray and Lalu Prasad Yadav to not spoil relationship between the two states.

Source : DNAIndia