Mumbai, July 15: Eknath Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a leader of the Shiv Sena, launched a sharp attack on the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction on Tuesday. He criticized UBT for announcing support for Sonam Wangchuk‘s protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, accusing them of attempting to create instability across the country.
During a press conference, Shinde addressed various issues, including Hindutva, the Ram Temple, Article 370, Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, opposition politics, the NDA, paper leaks, and regional administrative actions.
Describing the UBT’s situation as “having fire on their tail while running to extinguish a mountain fire,” Shinde asserted that the UBT faction lacks the courage to take to the streets. Instead, they are trying to gain political advantage with a mindset of “you fight, we will hold your coat.”
Targeting UBT’s support for Wangchuk’s movement, Shinde remarked that this realization came too late. He noted their habit of supporting any protests against the government while never stepping out to lead, opting instead to provide support from home.
Shinde also accused the opposition of trying to instill fear by comparing India to crisis-ridden countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh. He emphasized that the economies of those nations had completely collapsed, making life difficult for their citizens, while India’s situation is entirely different.
He stated that under PM Modi’s leadership, India is rapidly advancing towards becoming an economic superpower. The Modi government has provided free grains to 800 million citizens and lifted 320 million people out of poverty. Comparing India to Sri Lanka or Bangladesh is merely political opportunism.
Shinde took aim at Thackeray as well, stating that those who once opposed the Hanuman Chalisa are now reciting the Ram Raksha. He claimed that the day Uddhav Thackeray abandoned the core values of the late Balasaheb Thackeray, the end of his Hindutva began.
He expressed surprise that the UBT faction is aligning with political forces that label Veer Savarkar as “an ally of the British.” Shinde remarked that those who imprisoned those reciting the Hanuman Chalisa are now chanting the Ram Raksha. They have finally realized that those who do not stand with Ram are of no use, but the public understands everything. Shinde credited PM Modi for fulfilling Balasaheb Thackeray’s dreams through the construction of the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He also discussed significant issues related to administration and alliances during his press conference.
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