Uddhav Thackeray takes a swipe at BJP, says party has left Hindutva

Mumbai: Launching a scathing attack at the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday accused it of leaving Hindutva.

“See the photo of 2014 and 2024…see the difference and judge for yourself,” Thackeray said in a scathing attack at Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“Are (Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader) Nitish Kumar and (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief) N Chandrababu Naidu are ‘Hindutvawadis’,” Thackeray questioned while addressing the 58th foundation day celebrations of the party founded by his late father Balasaheb Thackeray.

“The JD (U) and TDP have made big promises to the Muslims and other sections in their respective states of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, respectively. Is it all acceptable to the BJP and Modi,” he said and asked the BJP to clarify on this.

Thackeray said that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre would not last long. “This government is going to collapse and it should collapse,” said Thackeray, adding that once it is gone, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc government would come to power.

“Today, I felicitated not only our winning MPs but also those who did not win. I want the government to fall and elections to be held so that we can form the I.N.D.I.A. bloc government,” he said.

“There is a difference between confidence and arrogance,” he said, hitting out at the top BJP leadership.

Hitting out at BJP’s Maharashtra pointsperson and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said: “He told that the Maha Vikas Aghadi was an unnatural alliance…now he should tell what this government at Centre is…are Nitish (Kumar) and (Chandrababu) Naidu natural allies (of BJP)…thats why I am saying that BJP has left Hindutva,” he said.

Thackeray also hit out at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the latter’s comments Urban Naxals and NGOs had spread misinformation about the Maha Yuti alliance. “Breaking parties by misusing central agencies is Naxalism…terrorism,” he said.

“I have learnt lessons of Hindutva from my grandfather (Prabodhankar Thackeray) and father (Balasaheb Thackeray)….my Hindutva is not ‘gaumutradhari’ Hindutva,” he said.

To the BJP’s charge that SS (UBT) had abandoned Hindutva and was getting only Muslim votes, Thackeray said: “…all patriotic people in the country had voted decisively for the Maha Vikas Aghadi and Shiv Sena (UBT), including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Buddhists, and other communities who love the country and to save democracy and constitution”.

Taking potshots at his estranged cousin and MNS President Raj Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief for offering bin-shart (unconditional) support to the NDA…yes ‘bin-shirt’….just because they didn’t want Uddhav Thackeray”.

He also asked as to why the Supreme Court is not addressing the petitions on disqualification of Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). So far, it's just tarikh pe tarikh….Sunny Deol…I request the Supreme Court to tell us how long it will take to deliver its order. This is not a personal battle but a sincere effort to save the country’s democracy and the constitution,” said Thackeray.