A file image of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray
| Photo Credit: ANI
Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday (February 27, 2025) slammed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and yet again termed him a ‘traitor’.
“I have respect towards Ganga. I believe in ‘Namami Gange’. But if I take ‘50 boxes’ [₹50 crore], and then take a dip in the river, what’s the use? The stamp of a ‘traitor’ will remain intact. How many times will you take the holy dip? It won’t be washed away,” he said, referring to Mr. Shinde, who along with Sena MLAs had visited the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj earlier this week.
Mr. Thackeray was speaking at an event to celebrate the Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Divas in Mumbai on Thursday. The event was organised by Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh.
After the Shiv Sena split in 2022, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had accused Mr. Shinde and 39 MLAs of taking 50 khokas [₹50 crore each) to revolt against the Sena leadership. Mr. Shinde’s rebellion led to the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Criticises Modi
Mr. Thackeray also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his old comment on divine origin. “What will you say when someone says that I am not of biological origin?” he asked.
Speaking on Hindutva, he said, “All these new kids don’t need to teach us about neo-Hindutva. Have we fallen prey to the politics of north India? This is something we must debate on. When did we move from saying ‘Ram Ram’ [a customary way of greeting others in Maharashtra] to Jai Shree Ram?”
Questioning the BJP over its ‘batenge toh katenge’ remarks, Mr. Thackeray asked how the BJP saw a Shameema Akhtar sing Marathi songs in front of the Prime Minister during a recent programme in Delhi.
In a controversial remark, he referred to ‘Amruta’ while narrating a famous Marathi couplet, even as the auditorium laughed over it.
(With PTI inputs)
Published – February 28, 2025 01:37 am IST
