Uddhav attacks BJP’s approach to Hindutva

Maharashtra CM urges political parties to refrain from instigating people in State

Ahead of the crucial elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and other civic bodies in the State, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday slammed the BJP over its approach to Hindutva.

Addressing his first public rally since becoming the Chief Minister in 2019, Mr. Thackeray questioned the BJP over the killing of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. “Inconsequential leaders in Maharashtra are being given Z-plus security while those Pandits are being denied protection. Is this your Hindutva?” he said.

The Shiv Sena chief reiterated that despite having formed the government with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra, he remains Hindutvawadi to the core and proud of the fact that his party workers demolished the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

“Our Hindutva is gada (mace) dhari and not gadha (donkey) dhari. The gadha with us was thrown out around 2.5 years ago,” he said, alluding to the fallout with its former ally the BJP.

Reminding the BJP that poor and hungry citizens brought down power structures in Sri Lanka, he appealed to the party to concentrate on giving food to people instead of instigating them. He also appealed to his party workers to maintain calm and not to lose patience in the face of provocation from the Opposition.

The Sena ensured that the rally was a big success by publicising it with the theme: ‘Hrudyat Ram, Hatala Kam’ (Ram in heart, job in hand). The party made sure there was huge attendance at the rally and projected it as a show of strength in Mumbai.

“I once again appeal to all political parties to not instigate people. Our Hindutva is of ‘Ram in heart and job in hand’. Our Hindutva is not to burn houses, but to light stoves in houses. I appeal to all of you [Sena workers] to not get disturbed by anything. It is being done purposely to burn this State. I thank you all for showing patience and restraint,” he said.