<p>Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today accused the BJP of "backstabbing" allies like his party and Haryana Janhit Congress but said he respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"They (BJP) were with us when they needed us and left us when the need was fulfilled. What did they do with Bishnoi? They said in a public rally that he would be the next Haryana chief minister. I have the tape recording to prove it," he told reporters after casting his vote in suburban Bandra.<br /><br />"Why did they stab us in the back? BJP will have to answer that," he said.<br />The Sena leader, however, maintained he personally respected Modi, who had been frequently targeted by party mouthpiece 'Saamana' and its Hindi publication after the split between the two saffron allies.<br /><br />"I have not insulted Narendrabhai. I have respect for him," Uddhav said while responding to criticism by senior BJP leaders of an article published by 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' slamming Modi which also had a derogatory reference to his father.<br /><br />"BJP will not tolerate insult to the Prime Minister. We are not a helpless party. It is unfortunate that Shiv Sena is unnecessarily raking up Modi's family background to garner sympathy," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters in Nagpur after casting his vote.<br /><br />State BJP President Devendra Fadanvis too criticised remarks against Modi and said the people of Maharashtra will give a befitting reply to the Shiv Sena in today's poll.<br /><br />"It is improper for the Sena to touch this low...it is against Maharashtra' culture. We have a tradition of respecting our elders," he said.<br /><br />The 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' had yesterday poured vitriol on Modi, saying he and his party had forgotten Sena's contribution to their landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections.<br />However, Uddhav had distanced himself from the article in the newspaper.</p>
<p>Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today accused the BJP of "backstabbing" allies like his party and Haryana Janhit Congress but said he respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"They (BJP) were with us when they needed us and left us when the need was fulfilled. What did they do with Bishnoi? They said in a public rally that he would be the next Haryana chief minister. I have the tape recording to prove it," he told reporters after casting his vote in suburban Bandra.<br /><br />"Why did they stab us in the back? BJP will have to answer that," he said.<br />The Sena leader, however, maintained he personally respected Modi, who had been frequently targeted by party mouthpiece 'Saamana' and its Hindi publication after the split between the two saffron allies.<br /><br />"I have not insulted Narendrabhai. I have respect for him," Uddhav said while responding to criticism by senior BJP leaders of an article published by 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' slamming Modi which also had a derogatory reference to his father.<br /><br />"BJP will not tolerate insult to the Prime Minister. We are not a helpless party. It is unfortunate that Shiv Sena is unnecessarily raking up Modi's family background to garner sympathy," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told reporters in Nagpur after casting his vote.<br /><br />State BJP President Devendra Fadanvis too criticised remarks against Modi and said the people of Maharashtra will give a befitting reply to the Shiv Sena in today's poll.<br /><br />"It is improper for the Sena to touch this low...it is against Maharashtra' culture. We have a tradition of respecting our elders," he said.<br /><br />The 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' had yesterday poured vitriol on Modi, saying he and his party had forgotten Sena's contribution to their landslide victory in the Lok Sabha elections.<br />However, Uddhav had distanced himself from the article in the newspaper.</p>