Uddhav Thackeray slams ‘betrayal’ on Shinde turf: Sainiks know who sold out
Uddhav Thackeray also asserted that despite increasing distortion and dirtiness in politics, the real loyalists, Shiv Saniks, who are still with him, have been following the teachings of Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who visited Thane on Thursday, paid floral tributes to late Sena leader Anand Dighe at his bust at Tembi Naka. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday took on Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the latter’s home turf for the “betrayal” he inflicted on the Sena, as well as Maharashtra, and asserted that the whole country knows they “sold out”, and for how much.
In his first visit to Thane since the Shiv Sena split last year, the former Maharashtra CM also paid tribute at the memorial of Anand Dighe, the late popular Sena leader who was considered Shinde’s mentor.
Thane was a stronghold of the united Sena for years, but with most supporters leaving with Shinde, this is seen as a move by Thackeray to rebuild the party in the district.
Asked about Thackeray’s visit, and his remarks, Shinde said, “In democracy, everyone has the right to carry out propaganda for one’s party and work for its expansion.”
Thackeray was in Thane to inaugurate a medical camp organised by Rajan Vichare, the local MP, at Shivaji Maidan on the eve of Dighe’s birth anniversary. Stating that he was not there to deliver a speech, the former CM said, “I am here for the health camp organised by our MP, and to attend some other functions. I have come today to take care of citizens’ health. Soon, I will return to give a (political) speech and take care of the political health of Thanekars (Thane residents).”
Thackeray subsequently paid floral tributes at Dighe’s bust near Anand Ashram and also participated in a function organised by the Jain community.
He asserted that despite the increasing “dirt” in politics, he is proud that the Sena has not forgotten its goal. “While fighting injustice is the Sena’s motto, we were also taught by Shiv Sena pramukh (party founder Bal Thackeray) that (public life is about) 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politics,” he said. “Rajan and others, who are loyal Shiv Sainiks, are here with us.”
Without naming the Shinde faction Thackeray said that everyone knows the “others” who “sold out”. “We know at what price they have been sold. I don’t have to tell you that,” he said, as the crowd responded with the slogan, “Pachaas khoke, ekdum OK (50 crore, absolutely OK),”
Thackeray said this slogan has reached every corner of the country, and the split in Sena has defamed not only the party but also Maharashtra. He said Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut took part in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kashmir and, on return, showed him a video — “people there (in J&K) are also raising these slogans (about purported sellout)”.
However, the Sena (UBT) chief asserted, the “staunch and firebrand Sainiks still with me will light a mashaal (torch, the party’s poll symbol) in Maharashtra’s politics in the coming days”.
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