Mumbai, Jul 18 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, saying those who once made disparaging remarks about Ram devotees and allied with the Congress are now speaking about Lord Ram and Hindutva.
Thackeray has launched a ‘Ram Raksha’ agitation against the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Earlier in the day, he offered prayers and performed aarti at a Ram temple in Nagpur, and addressed a gathering, targeting the BJP and Shinde.
Those with whom the Sena (UBT) has aligned have repeatedly opposed Hindutva, V D Savarkar, and the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, said Shinde.
By joining hands with such people, the Sena (UBT) had already abandoned the path of Hindutva, said Shinde, who now heads the Shiv Sena.
He said that if the Sena (UBT) is genuinely committed to organising a Ram Raksha agitation, they should first invite their alliance partners like Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. Only after that should they extend invitations to the RSS chief and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The DCM said Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray always proclaimed, “Say with pride, we are Hindus.” After all these years, the UBT faction has suddenly remembered this slogan. Hindutva is not something that can be discarded when convenient and worn again whenever it suits one’s political interests. Therefore, before speaking about the Ram Raksha, they should first protect their own party and safeguard their own ideology, Shinde said.
He said Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray always gave the slogan ‘garv se kaho hum Hindu hain’ (say with pride, we are Hindus).
“After all these years, the Sena (UBT) faction has suddenly remembered this slogan. Hindutva is not something that can be discarded when convenient and embraced again whenever it suits one’s political interests. Therefore, before speaking about the ‘Ram Raksha’, they should first protect their own party and safeguard their ideology,” Shinde said.
He also said that Lord Ram accepted 14 years of exile to fulfil his father’s promise. “However, those who abandoned their own father’s ideals and principles midway have no moral authority to preach the ideals of Lord Ram,” Shinde said.
The deputy CM claimed that the ‘Ram Raksha’ agitation is not an effort to “protect Lord Ram, but an attempt to protect their own political party”.
In his address in Nagpur earlier on Saturday, Thackeray targeted the BJP over the Ayodhya issue, saying the shrine has already been built and it is now time to launch a new movement to protect it.
He also attacked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asking him to clarify whether he backed temple “looters” or those who “protect” Ram. PTI PR NR
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