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Journalism of Courage
Taking on the Shiv Sena, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis criticised their claim that the recent Supreme Court judgment was in their favor regarding the proceedings of the state legislative assembly. Fadnavis stated that there was clarity in the Supreme Court verdict as none of the prayers made by the Thackeray group were accepted by the court.
“There is clarity in the decision of the Supreme Court. The Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray made eight prayers, but none of them have been accepted by the court. Former Chief Minister has made their party members create noise,” Fadnavis said.
He also criticised the MVA alliance partners for celebrating the BJP’s defeat in the Karnataka state assembly elections. Fadnavis pointed out that many assembly seats in Karnataka were lost by the BJP by a narrow margin, while the victory in local bodies in Uttar Pradesh was not discussed.
In Maharashtra, Fadnavis emphasised that only the Modi pattern would work, and the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance remained strong. He stated that the saffron parties would contest the civic, state assembly, and Lok Sabha elections in alliance.
“I want the party members to dedicate their time to the BJP in the last six months of this year and the first six months of next year. They should work without expecting anything from the party,” Fadnavis said. He also assured the national unit that the state BJP would win no less than 42 Lok Sabha seats in the next elections.
State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule added that the party currently holds 113 seats in the state, with 59 of the previously lost seats being won back and three new seats in favor of the party. He set a target of winning 48 Lok Sabha seats and 150+ assembly seats in the next elections.
Regarding the arrest of DRDO scientist Pradeep Kurulkar by Maharashtra ATS for suspected wrongful communication with Pakistani intelligence operatives in a honey trap case, Bawankule clarified that the individual’s crime should not be linked to the organization he is associated with. “Those committing a crime will face its consequences regardless of their organizational connection. However, the organization should not be implicated,” he said.
