Stop calling us ‘traitors’, we took this step to save the state and Shiv Sena, retaliates to CM Eknath Shinde
Stop calling us ‘traitors’, we took this step to save the state and Shiv Sena, retaliates to CM Eknath Shinde
Opening a front against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the rebel Shiv Sena faction, Shiv Sena leader and MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday said 40 rebel MLAs can never be the real face of Maharashtra. It was “totally frivolous” to justify their inter-party rebellion.
Addressing whirlwind rallies in Kolhapur, Satara and Pune as part of his outreach program ‘Shiv Samvad Yatra’, Yuva Mr Thackeray said that the new government formed by Mr Shinde and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis (formerly under Uddhav Thackeray). The toppling of the government led by the MVA) was “unconstitutional and illegal” and claimed it would fall soon.
“Do you agree with the dirty politics going on in the state? Real faces of these traitors [MLAs of the Shinde camp] was exposed by his act of betrayal. I challenge them to resign as MLAs and MPs and face the public, if they have the guts to do so, get another mandate,” the Shiv Sena leader said.
Read also | Sanjay Raut was a staunch Shiv Sainik who faced pressure: Uddhav Thackeray
Mocking the delay in the expansion of the new cabinet even after Mr Shinde and Mr Fadnavis came to power, Mr Thackeray termed the Shinde-Fadnavis government as a ‘two-member jumbo cabinet’.
“He has a jumbo cabinet of two… He still hasn’t found a third person who is eligible to be a part of his cabinet. This is an illegal government of traitors and will surely fall soon.
Stating that the Thackeray family and the Shiv Sena had filled the rebel MLAs and MPs with more affection and opportunities for personal advancement, he said they might have gone to the other side to overcome their ‘indigestion’.
“It takes courage to rebel. But you [Shinde camp MLAs] Cowards, not rebels… If you were to rebel, you would not have tasted power in the MVA for two and a half years. The explanation that we are joining BJP for ‘Hindutva’ is ridiculous,” Mr Thackeray said.
Criticizing Mr. Shinde’s method of rebellion, he cited migration of rebel MLAs to BJP-ruled Gujarat and Assam (they were taken to Surat before leaving for Guwahati).
“I felt sad that when the people of Assam were badly affected in the floods, they had no food and were evicted, these 40 shameless MLAs were dancing in hotel rooms in T-shirts and track pants. Had they been real Shiv Sainiks, they would have taken to the streets of Assam to help the flood affected people. How can such people be your elected representatives?” Mr Thackeray said.
Meanwhile, Mr Shinde, who is on a tour of Pune district, said he and the MLAs who joined his camp had decided to part ways with Uddhav Thackeray’s army to “save Maharashtra” and bring justice to the common man. and ordinary Shiv Sainiks.
Speaking at a rally in Purandar, Mr Shinde questioned what the Shiv Sena achieved in the MVA alliance, while targeting the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for registering cases against Shiv Sena leaders.
‘NCP leaders started saying come to us’ [join the NCP] And we will take up all cases against you… When Shiv Sainiks come to me with these complaints, how can I keep watching? I am not a thick skinned party worker… I am a sensitive Shiv Sainik of the ideals of Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe,” Mr Shinde said, justifying the rebellion.
He said that if the Shiv Sena and BJP formed the government in 2019 itself and the Congress and NCP, which are dominating the MVA alliance, would not have got the lease of life as they would have eventually got.
Hitting out at the Thackeray camp for terming them as ‘traitors’, Mr Shinde asked: “If we are indeed anti-nationals and rebels, have the people of Maharashtra showered us with so much affection during our visits to different parts of the state? Will happen. ,
He further said that in the new government no one will dare to file a case against any Shiv Sainik in future.