Shiv Sena, BJP spar over Hindutva, Babri demolition and renaming cities
India Today
Shiv Sena and BJP leaders continued to trade barbs on Monday over Hindutva, Babri Mosque demolition and renaming of cities.
The war of words between Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party escalated on Monday as the leaders of the two parties traded barbs over Hindutva, Babri Mosque demolition and renaming cities.
A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's comments on Hindutva, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday claimed that Sena's Hindutva did not translate into its policies and was thus losing ground in the state. Fadnavis also attacked Shiv Sena over delay in renaming Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. The BJP leader also claimed that Sena had little contribution in the Ram janmbhoomi movement.
In his reply, Sanjay Raut claimed that for claimed that for Shiv Sena Hindutva was a matter of faith not politics.
"Hindutva is not a political issue. It's a matter of faith and culture. If BJP feels that they are the proprietors of Hindutva then they are mistaken," Sanjay Raut said.
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Earlier in the day, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had claimed that Shiv Sena was losing electroral ground after breaking ties with the BJP. He was referring to the recent local body polls where the Sena bagged fourth position.
To this, Raut said that Hindutva was a tool to gain political victories. "Fighting elections, winning or losing are not certifications of Hindutva. Savarkar was the biggest champion of Hindutva. But his Hindu Mahasabha never got success in electoral politics. Yet his thoughts on Hindutva continue to shine," Sanjay Raut said.
