Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the BJP is looking at the possibility of further splits in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents, in anticipation of the Supreme Court verdict on the disqualification petition on 16 rebel Sena MLAs belonging to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction.
Uddhav hoped that the SC verdict will be in his favour. “The SC verdict is pending. We hope and expect that justice will be served. And it will be… they (BJP) are now looking at possibilities after the verdict and what they will do… (if the verdict is against Shinde-led Sena). They are not ready to introspect on what they are losing out on but are eyeing on further splits in the Sena (UBT), split in the Congress and the NCP,” Uddhav said while speaking at a rally in Jalgaon.
The Sena (UBT) president also hit out at the BJP saying that the party is trying to finish off the opposition by misusing central agencies like the ED and CBI. “The BJP wants to remain the only party in the country. It doesn’t want any other political party in the country and hence is targeting all the opposition party leaders by sending the ED and CBI after them and giving clean chit to those who are joining hands with them,” he said, while citing the examples of opposition leaders in the state. Uddhav challenged the BJP to arrest all those who had gathered at the rally.
He reiterated that the Election Commission, which in February allotted Shiv Sena party name and party poll symbol to Shinde-led Sena, is “suffering from cataract” and said that looking at the large turnout at the rally, even Pakistan would recognise which is the real Shiv Sena. “Looking at this gathering, even Pakistan would recognise which is the real Shiv Sena. But EC is not, because it is suffering from cataract,” Uddhav said, further hitting out at the Shinde-led Sena.
Uddhav also dared the BJP to hold the elections now. He also attacked the BJP for targeting former Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik for his “revelations” on the Pulwama terror attack in 2019. “Satya Pal Malik made shocking revelations about the Pulwama attack. But there were no answers from the government. Forget giving answers, the CBI was sent after him,” he said.
On industrialist Gautam Adani, Uddhav targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked if Adani managed to become the second richest businessman of the world just because of his friendship with Modi. “Rahul Gandhi raised questions on Adani. Not only Rahul but other people too including farmers have this question. Farmers are wondering how come they are unable to repay loans despite doing so much work but Adani becomes the second richest person in the world, that too in just seven-eight years,” Uddhav asked.
On the allegations by the BJP that he abandoned Hindutva three years ago after joining hands with the NCP and Congress, Uddhav said the BJP doesn’t understand Hindutva and his party’s Hindutva is of nationality and not like BJP’s cow and “gaumutra”.
“After I took oath as the chief minister, all religions were treated equally. I have not abandoned Hindutva, I will not do that. Cow slaughter is banned in Maharashtra, but not in Goa. It’s banned in one state, not in another state. Just on the suspicion of carrying beef, a person is being lynched on the roads. This is not our Hindutva. The way you are giving security to cow, offer the same security to women first. Atrocities on women are increasing,” Uddhav said.
In response, Shinde took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray, saying it was unfortunate that Pakistan’s certificate is required to decide who the real Shiv Sena belongs to.