"As soon as Sudheendra Kulkarni s face was blackened, he immediately put his photos on social networking sites and alleged that the Sena was behind the attack. We agree with his allegations. Being patriotic and securing our country is Maharashtra s work and we are doing our work," the Saamana editorial said.
"It would have been better if the security provided for Kasuri was used to protect the citizens of Mumbai. They (the government) only stopped short of calling the army to protect him.
"Who is this <g data-gr-id="48">Kasuri ?</g> Today, he speaks a different tone but while he was in government, he was instrumental in bringing all separatists together against India," it said, <g data-gr-id="42">flaying</g> the Fadnavis government for the stringent security at the book release function that prevented the Sena from carrying out the threat of disrupting it.
Raut was even more hard-hitting in his criticism of Fadnavis when he said his statements made in the aftermath of the attack on Kulkarni amounted to insult to martyrs.
"The Chief Minister has insulted the martyrs like Tukaram Omble who died while fighting Pakistani terrorists (referring to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks) by asking policemen to provide security to a Pakistani. His (Fadnavis') statements have insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji's Maharashtra," he said.
Fadnavis, while disapproving of the Sena's protests had said last evening that it brought disrepute to the state which cannot be allowed to be reduced to a "banana republic".
"We cannot endorse Kasuri, but can't let our state turn into <g data-gr-id="54">banana</g> republic. The rule of law has prevailed. I think the way things have happened has brought a bad name to our state. There could have been better ways to put forth a point of view," he had said.
Kulkarni, who has served as <g data-gr-id="55">speech</g> writer to BJP veterans Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, was all praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"From the day he assumed office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun efforts to usher in a new beginning in South Asia," he said in response to a question and added "both the sides (India and Pakistan) want the dialogue to go ahead".