For the second year in a row, two factions of Shiv Sena held Dussehra rallies in two different parts of Mumbai on Tuesday where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhav Thackeray engaged in a war of words.
Launching scathing attacks on Shinde, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray referred to him as “Khokasur” and “General Dyer”, who ordered firing on a gathering of Indians in a compound called Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab during in then British-ruled India.
The Thackeray faction has alleged that Shinde, who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, took crores of money or several “khokhas” to switch sides.
“Raavan too was a Shiv Bhakt. But Ram had to kill him as he had become egoistic… Khokasur. We will finish them. They are scared that’s why they have stolen the bow and arrow as well… Lathicharge in Jalna like General Dyer. You have been so heartless. Maratha agitation was there when I was the CM too. Did the police use and brutality? Who is the Dyer of Jalna?” he asked.
Addressing Shiv Sena workers at Shivaji Park, Thackeray said the BJP is trying to divide people on the basis of caste. “BJP will eat a full meal in a wedding, as an uninvited guest, and will get the groom married to someone else before going. They go with anyone for their interest,” he added.
“The Supreme Court has been slamming them every now and then, but they are still shameless. Will the Constitution, and the Supreme Court exist now? Will or democracy survive? We will see what happens on the 30th. People have already decided who has been disqualified. I challenge them. They should hold the elections before taking a decision on the disqualification plea,” he said.
Thackeray further said the country needs a strong government but not of one party with a brute majority. He said when the “chair” (of ruler) is unstable, the country becomes strong.
We Gave Up Power For Hindutva: Shinde
Shinde, who addressed Shiv Sena workers at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, slammed Thackeray for forming an alliance with Congress and the Samajwadi Party while burying Hindutva thoughts of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
“At one time Bal Thackeray gave the slogan `Garvase kaho hum Hindu hai’ (say with pride we are Hindu), but now the new slogans being shouted at Shivaji Park are ‘Garvase kaho hum Congressi hai, Garvase kaho hum Samajwadi hai’. In future, Uddhav Thackery would form an alliance with the AIMIM and embrace even Hamas, Hizbul, will meet Lashkar-e-Taiba for power,” he said.
Shinde said he would never compromise for a seat for power.
“Shiv Sainiks have come from Maharashtra today, this is a saffron wave. This Azad gathering is being held today at Azad Maidan. Azad Maidan also has a history. Shiv Sena’s Dussehra gathering is being held on Azad Maidan. People have come since dawn. We are respecting other communities, respecting them too, we are moving ahead,” he said.
“We will never compromise for a seat for power and therefore today Abdul Sattar is also a minister in our cabinet, he himself came with the workers in an ST car and he sat with the workers. I congratulate him from the bottom of my heart and thank him,” he added.
Without taking Uddhav Thackeray’s name, the Chief Minister said his love is not for Balasaheb’s thoughts but for money.
“We gave up power for Hindutva, it became helpless for power, Balasaheb did not take it to us. After the Election Commission came to us with the party and the symbol, they asked the bank for Rs 50 crore. The bank refused him. Then he shamelessly asked me for money. Accusing us of 50 boxes and demanding 50 crores from us. Your love is not for Balasaheb’s thoughts but for money. So I paid that money without thinking for a moment,” he said.
Shinde promised that he would make sure to give Maratha a reservation that would stand legally.
“I am committed to giving Maratha reservations without doing injustice to any community. I take the oath of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I request people not to take any extreme steps, your family is behind you. As long as even a single drop of blood is left in my body, I will work for the Maratha reservation. The committee that has been formed has been working on this for 24 hours,” he said.
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