<p>Mumbai: Coinciding with the 99th birth anniversary celebrations, the Uddhav Thackeray-led <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/shiv-sena-ubt">Shiv Sena (UBT)</a> on Thursday demanded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, for Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray. </p><p>Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member and Thackeray family aide Sanjay Raut formally placed the demand. </p><p>Balasaheb (23 January 1926 – 17 November 2012) had founded the Shiv Sena on 19 June 1966.</p><p>“Balasaheb Thackeray should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna award. He established Shiv Sena and struggled for the rights of Marathi people," Raut said.</p>.No alliance can succeed if dialogue stops: Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut.<p>Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after they paid homage to Balasaheb on X, Raut said that conferring the Bharat Ratna to the Shiv Sena founder would be the actual respect for him.</p><p>“If people like Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis pay tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on Twitter (X), then it is the biggest hypocrisy,” he said, adding: “Why has Balasaheb Thackeray, the ‘HinduHriday Samrat, have not been conferred with Bharat Ratna.” </p><p>“Before his centenary begins, it is imperative that he is given the Bharat Ratna,” he said, adding: “You could not give the Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. If you give Bharat Ratna to Balasaheb, it will also be an honour for Veer Savarkar.”</p><p>In June 2022, the Shiv Sena underwent a split because of a revolt by Shinde through the help of BJP.</p><p>Shinde is now the chief leader of the Shiv Sena having claimed the original party while Uddhav Thackeray commands Shiv Sena (UBT).</p>
<p>Mumbai: Coinciding with the 99th birth anniversary celebrations, the Uddhav Thackeray-led <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/shiv-sena-ubt">Shiv Sena (UBT)</a> on Thursday demanded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, for Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray. </p><p>Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member and Thackeray family aide Sanjay Raut formally placed the demand. </p><p>Balasaheb (23 January 1926 – 17 November 2012) had founded the Shiv Sena on 19 June 1966.</p><p>“Balasaheb Thackeray should be conferred with the Bharat Ratna award. He established Shiv Sena and struggled for the rights of Marathi people," Raut said.</p>.No alliance can succeed if dialogue stops: Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut.<p>Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after they paid homage to Balasaheb on X, Raut said that conferring the Bharat Ratna to the Shiv Sena founder would be the actual respect for him.</p><p>“If people like Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis pay tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray on Twitter (X), then it is the biggest hypocrisy,” he said, adding: “Why has Balasaheb Thackeray, the ‘HinduHriday Samrat, have not been conferred with Bharat Ratna.” </p><p>“Before his centenary begins, it is imperative that he is given the Bharat Ratna,” he said, adding: “You could not give the Bharat Ratna to Veer Savarkar. If you give Bharat Ratna to Balasaheb, it will also be an honour for Veer Savarkar.”</p><p>In June 2022, the Shiv Sena underwent a split because of a revolt by Shinde through the help of BJP.</p><p>Shinde is now the chief leader of the Shiv Sena having claimed the original party while Uddhav Thackeray commands Shiv Sena (UBT).</p>