Raj Thackeray sounded genuine, Uddhav full of bitterness: Shinde

'Some leaders spoke of having neither a flag nor an agenda. But while one observed that restraint, the other shamelessly revealed his flag of selfishness and his agenda for power,' Shinde said.

Mumbai: Raj Thackeray’s speech reflected genuine concern for the Marathi language while, in contrast, Uddhav Thackeray’s speech was filled with bitterness, jealousy, and a desperate craving for power and position, deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde said on Saturday.

"There was a clear expectation that Uddhav Thackeray would apologise to the Marathi people for accepting the report mandating compulsory Hindi from Class 1 to 12. Instead, he turned the stage into a political battleground. He raised no relevant issue concerning the Marathi-manoos. Self-interest and the hunger for power were the only visible agendas,” Shinde said in a no hold back attack on Uddhav, his bete noire.

“Raj Thackeray’s speech today reflected genuine concern for the Marathi language. In contrast, Uddhav’s speech was filled with bitterness, jealousy, and a desperate craving for power and position. Some leaders spoke of having neither a flag nor an agenda. But while one observed that restraint, the other shamelessly revealed his flag of selfishness and his agenda for power. Today’s event left the Marathi community disappointed,” Shinde told reporters in Thane.

“Three years ago, we rose against injustice. Uddhav Thackeray must mind his language. He must remember very well what happens when I decide to rise. He is all noise and no courage. He has fallen flat on his face in the Vidhan Sabha elections and now needs others to lift him up,” he said.

Responding to those questioning his contribution to the Marathi cause, Shinde said: “When I was the chief minister, we passed the resolution adopting the State Song, and today’s event began with it. We proposed granting ‘Classical Language’ status to Marathi, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately approved it. Yet today, even the Prime Minister was targeted — a deeply unfortunate act that only exposes their mindset, hatred, and desperation for power.”

“The real questions need to be answered by Uddhav Thackeray,” Shinde asserted. “Why has the Marathi population in Mumbai declined? Why is the representation of Marathi people shrinking? He abandoned Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology in 2019, and the public responded in the Assembly elections. Shiv Sena won 60 seats, while Uddhav’s party contested 100 and managed to win just 20. In 2019, for the sake of the chief minister’s chair, he betrayed the people’s mandate, Balasaheb’s legacy, and the cause of Hindutva,” he said.