Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction held their traditional Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar, affectionately known as 'Shivtirth' by the party. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the parties that previously criticized the BJP's schedule for the Ayodhya Ram temple construction are now experiencing discomfort.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde launched a scathing critique of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, accusing him of forsaking the Hindutva ideology of Bal Thackeray in pursuit of power, as he joined forces with Congress and socialist parties.
During his address to a sizable gathering at the Dussehra rally held by Shiv Sena in Azad Maidan, Shinde, without directly naming Thackeray, asserted that Thackeray had betrayed Bal Thackeray's legacy by compromising on his ideological principles.
Shinde also expressed his lack of surprise if Shiv Sena-UBT were to form alliances with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even cosy up to organizations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Toiba, all for their personal gains and the quest for power.
Additionally, Shinde reaffirmed the state government's commitment to providing reservations for Marathas, which would withstand legal scrutiny, and he appealed to the youth not to resort to extreme measures such as suicide.
"You have buried the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray by going with Congress and Samajwadis for power. Balasaheb had given 'Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai' slogan from 'Shivtirth' (Shivaji Park ground) but slogans like 'Garv se kaho hum Congressi and Samajwadi hai' are being given from that venue," Shinde said.
Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction held their traditional Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Dadar, affectionately known as 'Shivtirth' by the party. He said that those parties that previously criticized the BJP's schedule for the Ayodhya Ram temple construction are now experiencing discomfort.
"They have lost their face. How will they go to Ayodhya now?" he asked.
Shinde claimed Uddhav Thackeray nurtured the ambition to become the CM since 2004 but things didn't work out.
"It was his (Uddhav's) wish to become the CM since 2004 but the 'jugaad' didn't work out. He pretended that he was never interested in the post. It was said publicly that he accepted the responsibility (after the 2019 assembly elections) on the advice of Sharad Pawar. But the fact is that two persons were sent to Pawar to recommend his (Uddhav's) name for the post," he said.
Targeting the INDIA bloc of opposition parties, Shinde said the people will bury "the ten-headed INDIA alliance Ravan in 2024 polls".
He said PM Modi will come to power for the third consecutive term next year and "We will send 45 MPs (out of 48) from Maharashtra to strengthen his hand".
Shinde said it was Modi who had fulfilled the dreams of Bal Thackeray by removing Article 370 and facilitating the construction of Ram temple.
"Once Balasaheb had said that if he became PM for a day, he would build Ram Mandir and repeal Article 370. Now under Modi’s guidance, Ram Mandir is being constructed in Ayodhya and Article 370 is scrapped," he added.
Shinde said those who used to taunt regarding the timeline for the construction of the Ram temple have lost their face as Modi has given the schedule of its construction. "We all will go to Ayodhya for the inauguration of the temple".
He said the massive crowd at Azad Maidan shows a “saffron wave” is prevailing in Maharashtra.
"This is the azad Shiv Sena's azad rally at Azad Maidan, which is associated with the freedom struggle," he said.
Against the backdrop of the acrimony between two factions of Shiv Sena over the venue of the annual Dussehra rally, Shinde said he considers any place as 'Shivtirth' where Bal Thackeray's thoughts can be shared openly.
In a jibe at Uddhav, he said, "Those who claim to have blood relations with Balasaheb have suppressed his thoughts".
Terming Uddhav Thackray and his son Aaditya as "one full, one half", Shinde said he won't be surprised if they merge their faction with Congress.
Speaking on the Maratha quota issue, Shinde said since he is from an ordinary Maratha family, he understands their pain and sorrow.
"I am aware of their pain and sorrow. The Justice Shinde (retd) committee is working 24 hours, and a curative petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (which had struck down the Maratha quota) and it has been admitted. Hence a window has been opened," the chief minister said.
Midway in his speech, Shinde bowed before the bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the dais and vowed to grant the reservation to the Maratha community.
“Without doing injustice to anyone and without withdrawing (reservation of anyone), this government will provide a quota to the Maratha community that will last permanently,” Shinde said.
Appealing to youths to not take extreme steps like committing suicide for quota, Shinde said they should think of their families and children before taking any extreme step.
He said Bal Thackeray had castigated Mani Shankar Aiyar and Congress for "insulting" VD Savarkar, but they (Uddhav) are now serving the same Congress.