BJP, Sena target Sena (UBT) over Waqf bill; Sena (UBT) says bill has nothing to do with Hindutva

In a social media post, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a dig at the Sena (UBT) and Uddhav, stating that he would see whether Uddhav Thackeray would now follow the late Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s ideology or Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for appeasement politics when there would be voting for the Waqf bill in Parliament on Wednesday.

Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also launched a sharp attack on Sena (UBT), accusing Uddhav of engaging in opportunistic vote-bank politics and abandoning Hindutva.

Shinde alleged that Sena (UBT) has strayed from Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology and is now operating under Rahul Gandhi’s influence.

He said that Sena (UBT)’s stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill has unmasked their real motives.

Deputy CM Shinde questioned the shifting stance of Sena (UBT), particularly their claim that the Waqf Amendment Bill is unrelated to Hindutva.

“Their position raises serious concerns. The real question is—will they uphold Balasaheb’s ideals or merely follow Rahul Gandhi’s instructions? We have never indulged in opportunistic politics for votes. Our commitment remains firm to the ideology of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe. We have never compromised our principles for power. The true face of those engaging in vote-bank politics for Muslim votes (Sena UBT) have been exposed through their stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill,” Shinde said.

The Sena UBT, however, claimed that there is no link between Hindutva and the bill and targeted the ruling alliance stating that the intention of the government is not right with the bill.

Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the government is eying on the lakhs of acres of Waqf board lands which the BJP allegedly wishes to hand over it to its favourite industrialists and it is just an ordinary bill and no connection with Hindutva.

“What is the connection between this bill and Hindutva? This bill seems to be an attempt to grab land and give it to the favourite industrialists of the government,” Raut said.