Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, unleashed a scathing assault on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, alleging that he abandoned Bal Thackeray’s Hindutva doctrine in exchange for power and allied himself with the Congress and socialist organizations.
Without mentioning Thackeray, Shinde said that by being dishonest with his ideological inheritance, he had backstabbed Bal Thackeray in front of a sizable crowd at the Shiv Sena’s Dussehra event at Azad Maidan.
Furthermore, Shinde said that he would not be shocked if the Shiv Sena-UBT joined forces with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even “hugged terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Toiba for their selfish motives and chair (power)”.
He also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to provide Maraths quotas that would withstand judicial examination and urged young people not to adopt drastic measures like suicide.
“By siding with Congress and Samajwadis to gain power, you have destroyed Balasaheb Thackeray’s Hindutva doctrine. Balasaheb had chanted “Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai” from the Shivaji Park grounds, but now “Garv se kaho hum Congressi and Samajwadi hai” is chanted there, according to Shinde.
At Shivaji Park in Dadar, which the party fondly refers to as “Shivtirth,” Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction staged their customary Dussehra rally. He said that the parties that had earlier attacked the BJP’s development plan for the Ayodhya Ram temple are now feeling uneasy.
They no longer have their face. He questioned, “How would they go to Ayodhya now?
Shinde asserted Since 2004, Uddhav Thackeray has been pursuing his goal of becoming the CM, but it hasn’t been successful.
“Ever since 2004, Uddhav has wanted to be the chief minister, but the ‘jugaad’ didn’t work out. He claimed he had no interest in taking the position. On the recommendation of Sharad Pawar, it was made known that he accepted the duty (after the 2019 state assembly elections). However, the truth of the matter is that two people were sent to Pawar to submit Uddhav’s name for the position.
In a statement directed at the opposition INDIA group, Shinde predicted that the 2024 elections will “bury the ten-headed INDIA alliance Ravan.”
He said that Prime Minister Modi would take office for a third time in a row the next year and that “We will send 45 MPs (out of 48) from Maharashtra to strengthen his hand.”
By abolishing Article 370 and permitting the building of the Ram temple, according to Shinde, Modi has realized the aspirations of Bal Thackeray.
“Once, Balasaheb said that if he were to serve as prime minister for a day, he would erect the Ram Mandir and abolish Article 370. Ram Mandir is now being built in Ayodhya under Modi’s direction, and Article 370 has been repealed, he said.
Shinde said that since Modi revealed the development plan, individuals who used to make fun of the Ram temple’s timescale had lost face. “We all will go to Ayodhya for the inauguration of the temple” .
According to him, Maharashtra is experiencing a “saffron wave” as seen by the enormous gathering at Azad Maidan.
“This is the azad Shiv Sena’s azad rally at Azad Maidan, which is associated with the freedom struggle,” he said.
In light of the conflict between two Shiv Sena groups over where to hold the annual Dussehra gathering, Shinde said that he regards any location where Bal Thackeray’s ideas may be spoken in an open forum as a “Shivtirth.”
“Those who claim to have blood relations with Balasaheb have suppressed his thoughts,” he added, making fun of Uddhav.
Uddhav Thackray and his son Aaditya were described as “one full, one half” by Shinde, who added that he won’t be shocked if they combine their group with Congress.
Speaking about the Maratha quota problem, Shinde said that since he comes from a typical Maratha household, he can relate to their suffering.
“I am conscious of their suffering. The Justice Shinde (retd) committee is actively working around the clock, and the Supreme Court, which had previously invalidated the Maratha quota, has accepted a curative plea. As a result, a window has been opened, according to the chief minister.
Midway through his address, Shinde knelt before Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s bust on the dais and swore to give the Maratha community their quota.
“This government will give a quota to the Maratha community that will last forever without doing injustice to anyone and without withdrawing (reservation of anyone),” Shinde added.
Shinde urged young people to consider their families and children before taking any extreme action, such as killing themselves to meet a quota.
He said that although they (Uddhav) are now working for the same Congress, Bal Thackeray had criticized Mani Shankar Aiyar and the Congress for “insulting” VD Savarkar.
