Nearly 300 Sainiks, chanting slogans running down the BJP, cheered as Sarpotdar pulled the rope to hang the effigy with `Vande Mataram' emblazoned across its chest near the Shivaji statue on Juhu beach. They later torched a green flag to symbolise their opposition to the Pakistani cricket team.

A flurry of banners and posters ridiculed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani for their stand on both the issues. The main banner had Vajpayee and Advani taking off on the current Bollywood chartbuster Aati Kya Khandala with the two leaders asking one another ``Aay, kya bolte tum''.

Vajpayee is shown telling his colleague to allow the Pakistanis while Advani says there should not be pressure to sing `VandeMataram'.

Seemingly contradictory, the Sena had an explanation to ridicule Hindutva and its most-closely identified leaders. ``If the Pakistanis are allowed to come, it means Hindutva is dead,'' said a Sena leader. Sarpotdar's presence was a surprise to the hundreds of Sainiks gathered at the beach; it also signified the serious nature of the Sena's agitation. ``The BJP is toeing this line only because of elections,'' said Sarpotdar.

The fight between the alliance partners is no longer confined to the leaders. With this demonstration, the Sena has taken it to the streets. However, the city unit of the BJP is not worried. ``Our stand is clear. We are not doing anything for elections. On the contrary, the Sena has made an issue because we didn't give them seats in the four states that went to the polls today,'' said Kirit Sommaiya, BJP's Mumbai president.