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‘Moved to the back benches’: Uddhav Thackeray ‘insulted’ by Rahul Gandhi and Congress in Delhi, say BJP and Shinde Sena
The BJP said Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have constantly insulted Uddhav Thackeray and his party, as well as Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray was insulted as he was made to sit on the last bench during the INDIA bloc meeting convened by Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, in New Delhi, Maharashtra unit of the BJP and Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde alleged Friday.
Uddhav Thackeray was among the 50 representatives of 25 parties — including SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP (SP)’s Sharad Pawar, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, NC president Farooq Abdullah, and PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti, among others — who attended the INDIA bloc meeting held Thursday.
The BJP said Rahul Gandhi and the Congress have constantly insulted Uddhav Thackeray and his party, as well as Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray.
”When Uddhav Thackeray and his Sena were in alliance with the BJP, we always gave them the pride of place. Be at meetings or rallies, Uddhavji was also seated on the front bench. We gave him full respect. However, at yesterday’s INDIA bloc meeting, Rahul Gandhi forced Uddhavji to sit on the back bench, thereby insulting him…This is how the INDIA bloc treats the Thackerays,” said BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhaye.
“Congress and Rahul Gandhi have never addressed Balasaheb Thackeray as Hindu Hridaysamrat. He has never visited Matoshree, especially after the Sena joined hands with Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Congress leaders have never visited the memorial of Balasaheb Thackeray and never paid floral tributes. In contrast, several top BJP leaders have visited Matoshree and shown respect. In 20019, Amit Shah had also visited the Thackeray residence,” he added.
Upadhaye said that every year, Uddhav Thackeray meets Rahul and Sonia Gandhi. “He has given up Hindutva, he has dumped ideology, he has lost his respect. And now Uddhav Thackeray has been moved to the back benches,” he said.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, “Not just Uddhav Thackeray, even his son Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were made to sit on the back bench. The Congress has shown them their worth.”
Reacting to the criticism, Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “The meeting was held in an open space and a giant screen was put up. Uddhavji said he finds it difficult to see the screen clearly by sitting in the front row, and therefore he sat behind. Aditya and I then joined him.’
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