Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday poked fun at Maharashtra minister Dada Bhuse for his comments on onions, saying individuals who swore by food and engaged in “treachery” were telling others not to consume the important kitchen staple, whose prices had been on the rise recently.
Thackeray lamented the presence of ministers in Maharashtra like Bhuse, a significant figure in the state’s Shiv Sena government, which is headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
“Those who have turned to treachery and swore by food are warning others not to eat onions. Such politicians are regrettable to have in Maharashtra, the former cabinet member told reporters.
In response to farmer and trader demonstrations on Monday over the Union government’s imposition of a 40% export levy on the product, Bhuse said that it would not matter if people did not eat onions for 2 to 4 months.
The 40 Shiv Sena MLAs who rebelled against the party’s leadership last year included Bhuse, a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi cabinet.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has since referred to dissident MLAs as “traitors” in its rhetoric.