Mumbai | Under attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party for sitting next to People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti at the Opposition meeting in Patna, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he did so purposely and waved photos of her with top BJP leaders.
Addressing party workers, Thackeray claimed Mufti told him that the BJP's alliance with the PDP was on the condition that Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, won't be abolished.
Thackeray slammed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for dubbing Friday's Opposition meeting as an attempt by the parties “to save their political families and dynasties” and said the senior BJP leader should not stoop so low.
“I sat next to her purposely,” Thackeray said.
Targeting BJP's rivals, Fadnavis said on Friday that the Opposition meeting was for “Modi Hatao” (remove Modi) but the leaders were working to protect their dynasties.
“Uddhav Thackeray used to criticise us (BJP) for going with Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir. Now he (Thackeray) is sitting next to Mehbooba Mufti and talking about forming an alliance,” Fadnavis said.
This drew a counter from Thackeray.
“Those who align with you are clean. You (BJP) left Hindutva when you went with Mehbooba. We will tear the burqa of your fake Hindutva,” he said.
Thackeray waved pictures of Mufti with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that his party has not abandoned Hindutva.
Continuing his attack on Fadnavis, Thackeray said, “I am very sensitive about my family. Do not stoop so low. You also have a family and WhatsApp chats about your family are out. We have not started talking about it because if his (Fadnavis) family has to be talked about, then he has to do ‘shavasana' (corpse pose in yoga).” Thackeray was apparently referring to chats between Fadnavis's wife Amruta and suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani and his daughter Aniksha. The chats are part of the chargesheet against Jaisinghani, Aniksha and his cousin Nirmal in a case related to demanding bribes and trying to extort money from Amruta Fadnavis.
The chargesheet includes multiple screenshots of WhatsApp chats and
messages exchanged between Amruta and the father-daughter duo.
Hitting back at Thackeray, Fadnavis said he, his family and the BJP are like an open book. He said the chats are in the chargesheet with a purpose.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also targeted Thackeray.
Shinde said the revolt by Shiv Sena MLAs against Thackeray stands vindicated after the Patna meet. The rebellion, spearheaded by Shinde, toppled the Thackeray-led three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP last year.
Accusing Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva, Shinde said he sat in the league of Congress, Rashtriya Janta Dal, PDP, and Janata Dal (United) that were bitterly criticised by Sena founder Bal Thackeray. The same people opposed the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple, abrogation of Article 370 and Hindutva, he said.
The Opposition parties coming together is a victory of PM Modi's leadership, Shinded added.
Pune | In a jibe, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray shared the dais at the Patna meeting of Opposition parties with those people who had opposed Ram temple, abrogation of Article 370 and the ideology of Bal Thackeray.
Shinde also took potshots at Thackeray for his announcement of a morcha against "corruption" in the Mumbai civic body.
"Yesterday, Uddhav Thackeray shared the dais with Mehbooba Mufti and fodder scam accused Lalu Yadav. And he (Uddhav) is going to oppose corruption in the Mumbai municipal corporation," the chief minister told reporters.
At the Patna meeting held on Friday, a total of 17 opposition parties resolved to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly to defeat the saffron party and work with flexibility by setting aside their differences.
"'Dilo ka Gatbandhan' with those who opposed Ram temple, (scrapping of) Article 370, and the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray? I think we were right and we made the right decision last year," said Shinde, who heads Shiv Sena.
Shinde was referring to the rebellion led by him along with 39 MLAs last year against Thackeray's leadership, which led to the collapse of the MVA government.
He said that coming together of 15 parties which have lost their confidence is a testimony to the victory of prime minister Narendra Modi.
Queried on the Enforcement Directorate raiding places of Shiv Sena (UBT) secretary Suraj Chavan and others in connection with the Covid hospital contracts case, Shinde ruled out a political vendetta.
"No action is taken as revenge. The Enforcement Directorate is taking action, not the state government. The case involves Rs 1,200 crore and this money belongs to the common people. There should be clarity in this issue," he said.
Shinde said the Shiv Sena-BJP government is completing a year in office and the cabinet will be expanded soon.