राजनीति

Uddhav Thackeray warns Rahul Gandhi against insulting Veer Savarkar

Stating that though his party joined the Congress leader's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in a bid to save democracy, Uddhav said Rahul should avoid making statements that will create rift between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against insulting Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar, saying that he and his party won’t tolerate it. The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra.

Stating that though his party joined the Congress leader’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in a bid to save democracy, Uddhav said Rahul should avoid making statements that will create rift between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress.

“I want to tell that we walked with you in your ‘Bharat Jodo ’ as it was for the fight to save democracy. But I want to openly tell Rahul Gandhi that Savarkar is a God-like figure for us and we will not tolerate his insult…. We are together in the fight to save democracy. But do not make statements or take steps that will create fissures (between the Sena (UBT) and the Congress). They are trying to provoke you. If we missed the timing today, then our country will surely go towards autocracy,” Uddhav said while addressing his Shiv Garjana rally at Malegaon on Sunday evening.

Reiterating Savarkar’s role and sacrifice during the freedom movement, he said that what Savarkar did and suffered was unimaginable.

Pointing out the woes of farmers and issues faced by them, Uddhav strongly criticised the administration of the and Devendra Fadnavis-led government.

He also hit out at the BJP and Prime Minister , saying that the BJP and the PM were not India and that criticising Modi was not an insult to the country, as claimed by party leaders. “Criticising Modi doesn’t mean it’s an insult to the country. How can it be an insult to the country if there is criticism of Modi? Modi is not India,” Uddhav said.

Uddhav also slammed the BJP for misusing central agencies and “inducting corrupt people in the party” and asked the BJP to change its name. He said that the BJP has roped in all opposition party leaders by making corruption allegations against them. “You are inducting people in your party by making allegations against them and blackmailing them. For the greed of power you are taking all the corrupt people in the party. I want to tell the BJP to change its party name as a party of corrupt people. Rename the party as ‘Bhrasht Janata Party’ (instead of,” he said.

Having lost the party name and symbol to the Shinde-led group, Uddhav attacked the Election Commission of India (ECI). He said that the party name and poll symbol the ‘bow and arrow’ have been stolen by Shinde and the BJP and the ECI was working as per the instructions of the Union government’s orders. He, however, expressed his determination to fight till he wins.

Uddhav also dared the BJP to clarify if they were going to fight the elections under the leadership of Shinde and dared the national party to contest elections using Modi’s name. “Hold elections now. You ask for votes in the name of Narendra Modi, I will ask for votes in the name of my father,” he said, adding that the Shiv Sena and Thackeray name can never be separated from each other.

Uddhav also took a dig at the EC saying that if it was not suffering from cataract, it must see the crowds of Sainiks at Shiv Sena (UBT) rallies that took place in Khed on March 5 and on Sunday in Malegaon and then decide which is the real Shiv Sena.

Uddhav said that he wasn’t fighting to become CM again but to save the country’s democracy.