<p>Mumbai: The war of words between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) over the recently-concluded Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday took a new turn with Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut asking whether RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam during the festivities. </p><p>Last week, Shiv Sena chief leader and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Prayagraj and took a dip in Sangam.</p><p>Before that, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had visited Prayagraj with his family and took a dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. </p><p>However, Shinde chose to target his bete noire and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray over not going to Kumbh. </p>.Taking dip in Ganga will not wash away sin of betraying Maharashtra: Uddhav on Dy CM Shinde. <p>"Those who skipped Maha Kumbh should be asked why they skipped it. They keep saying they are Hindus. Balasaheb Thackeray proudly gave the slogan '<em>garv se kaho hum Hindu hain</em>' (proclaim proudly that we are Hindu) but now they are scared of calling themselves Hindu and call (Bal Thackeray) as the Hinduhriday Samrat," Shinde.</p><p>Responding to it, Thackeray said, "I respect the Ganga but what is the use of taking a dip in it after taking 50 khokas (street lingo for crore). Here, you betray Maharashtra, take 50 khokas and then you take a dip. This does not wash anyone's sin. How will the tag of being a betrayer go even after numerous dips (in the Ganga).”</p><p>On Sunday, Raut, the lieutenant of Thackeray, launched a scathing attack on Shinde.</p><p>“Shinde should have the courage to ask this question to respected RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ji! Is the boss of BJP not a Hindu?,” he said. </p>.'He is scared of calling himself Hindu,' says Eknath Shinde on Uddhav skipping Maha Kumbh. <p>“I have not seen photos of RSS chiefs (taking baths in Sangam)…whether it is Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Guru Golwalkar, Balasaheb Deoras, Rajju Bhaiyya and KS Sudarshan...I have not seen their photos in Kumbh taking bath,” he said, adding: “I have not seen photos of Balasaheb Thackeray in Kumbh or for that matter Veer Savarkar”. </p><p>“I have seen the photo of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) taking a bath at Kumbh festivities…but I have not seen his photos of visiting Kumbh before he became the Prime Minister,” he added. </p><p>Raut asked the BJP to give lessons on Hindutva to Shinde. “Our Shiv Sena (UBT) does not believe in fake Hindutva and publicity stunts,” he said and pointed out: “Yes…Fadnavis has gone to Kumbh Mela…but has other BJP ministers gone there?” </p>
<p>Mumbai: The war of words between Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) over the recently-concluded Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday took a new turn with Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut asking whether RSS chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam during the festivities. </p><p>Last week, Shiv Sena chief leader and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Prayagraj and took a dip in Sangam.</p><p>Before that, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had visited Prayagraj with his family and took a dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. </p><p>However, Shinde chose to target his bete noire and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray over not going to Kumbh. </p>.Taking dip in Ganga will not wash away sin of betraying Maharashtra: Uddhav on Dy CM Shinde. <p>"Those who skipped Maha Kumbh should be asked why they skipped it. They keep saying they are Hindus. Balasaheb Thackeray proudly gave the slogan '<em>garv se kaho hum Hindu hain</em>' (proclaim proudly that we are Hindu) but now they are scared of calling themselves Hindu and call (Bal Thackeray) as the Hinduhriday Samrat," Shinde.</p><p>Responding to it, Thackeray said, "I respect the Ganga but what is the use of taking a dip in it after taking 50 khokas (street lingo for crore). Here, you betray Maharashtra, take 50 khokas and then you take a dip. This does not wash anyone's sin. How will the tag of being a betrayer go even after numerous dips (in the Ganga).”</p><p>On Sunday, Raut, the lieutenant of Thackeray, launched a scathing attack on Shinde.</p><p>“Shinde should have the courage to ask this question to respected RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ji! Is the boss of BJP not a Hindu?,” he said. </p>.'He is scared of calling himself Hindu,' says Eknath Shinde on Uddhav skipping Maha Kumbh. <p>“I have not seen photos of RSS chiefs (taking baths in Sangam)…whether it is Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, Guru Golwalkar, Balasaheb Deoras, Rajju Bhaiyya and KS Sudarshan...I have not seen their photos in Kumbh taking bath,” he said, adding: “I have not seen photos of Balasaheb Thackeray in Kumbh or for that matter Veer Savarkar”. </p><p>“I have seen the photo of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) taking a bath at Kumbh festivities…but I have not seen his photos of visiting Kumbh before he became the Prime Minister,” he added. </p><p>Raut asked the BJP to give lessons on Hindutva to Shinde. “Our Shiv Sena (UBT) does not believe in fake Hindutva and publicity stunts,” he said and pointed out: “Yes…Fadnavis has gone to Kumbh Mela…but has other BJP ministers gone there?” </p>