NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday hit back at Union home minister Amit Shah's remarks asking Rahul Gandhi to "say something good about Balasaheb. Raut accused Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of betraying the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray . He claimed that Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once praised Thackeray but later “sold” the Shiv Sena to Eknath Shinde , who Raut said had no connection to its formation.
"You sold Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena. First, you bought it and then you sold it to (Eknath) Shinde. You have no right to utter the name of Balasaheb Thackeray," Raut said.
"You sold our party to an individual like Eknath Shinde who had nothing to do with the formation of Shiv Sena. You sold it to him because he could break off our MLAs...There is no need to show this fake love," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader added.
Raut’s comments came in response to Shah’s address at an election rally in Mumbai, where the Union home minister criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party for their stance on national figures, including Thackeray and Veer Savarkar. Shah challenged Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), to ask Rahul Gandhi to praise both Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb Thackeray. “Can Uddhav Thackeray ask Rahul Gandhi to say something good about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress leader speak to honour Balasaheb Thackeray?” Shah remarked, accusing the MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) alliance of ideological contradictions, particularly in their stance on these leaders.
Shah's remarks included a direct attack on Congress for its alleged appeasement politics and its acceptance of demands for reservations for Muslim minorities. He also accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian Constitution and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, further escalating tensions between the BJP and Congress.
The ongoing war of words between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) comes as Maharashtra heads into the assembly elections on November 20. The Shiv Sena split in 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion, aligning with the BJP and forming the new Shiv Sena faction. The upcoming elections will see the MVA coalition, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP.
"You sold Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena. First, you bought it and then you sold it to (Eknath) Shinde. You have no right to utter the name of Balasaheb Thackeray," Raut said.
"You sold our party to an individual like Eknath Shinde who had nothing to do with the formation of Shiv Sena. You sold it to him because he could break off our MLAs...There is no need to show this fake love," the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader added.
Raut’s comments came in response to Shah’s address at an election rally in Mumbai, where the Union home minister criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his party for their stance on national figures, including Thackeray and Veer Savarkar. Shah challenged Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), to ask Rahul Gandhi to praise both Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb Thackeray. “Can Uddhav Thackeray ask Rahul Gandhi to say something good about Veer Savarkar? Can any Congress leader speak to honour Balasaheb Thackeray?” Shah remarked, accusing the MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) alliance of ideological contradictions, particularly in their stance on these leaders.
Shah's remarks included a direct attack on Congress for its alleged appeasement politics and its acceptance of demands for reservations for Muslim minorities. He also accused Gandhi of insulting the Indian Constitution and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, further escalating tensions between the BJP and Congress.
The ongoing war of words between the BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) comes as Maharashtra heads into the assembly elections on November 20. The Shiv Sena split in 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion, aligning with the BJP and forming the new Shiv Sena faction. The upcoming elections will see the MVA coalition, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP, challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the BJP.
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