Delving into the disparities between the Hindutva ideologies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT), former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, emphasized a poignant distinction. He remarked that their version of Hindutva serves to “kindle the hearths” in people’s homes, whereas the BJP’s Hindutva metaphorically “engulfs their abodes in flames.”
“In discerning the Hindutva of the BJP from ours, a stark contrast emerges. Our Hindutva ignites warmth within households, yet the BJP’s Hindutva incites destruction,” declared Uddhav during his address to a gathering in Maharashtra. He further accused the Prime Minister of exerting influence over the judiciary while advocating for “legal parity” for all before the Supreme Court.
Additionally, Thackeray lamented the Modi government’s exploitation of the Election Commission of India against his party. “Our tools were confiscated. You, PM Modi, stripped away my party, my emblem, and my comrades, yet you still tremble at the mention of Uddhav Thackeray,” he asserted. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader referenced a governmental report alleging a rise in the Muslim population in the nation.
“Narendra Modi has presided over this nation’s helm for a decade; he must elucidate whether the surge in the Muslim populace is a testament to his success or failure. We are left in a quandary, unsure whether to commend or critique him for this ten-year surge in the Muslim populace,” he added.
Uddhav contended that the BJP administration has stripped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of all authority. “Kejriwal was granted bail, as everyone knows, but the Modi government usurped all of Kejriwal’s powers. Modi’s theatrics will persist until June 4th. After June 4th, he will no longer be Prime Minister Narendra Modi but simply Narendra Modi,” he remarked.
Earlier, on April 29th, the Prime Minister indirectly targeted Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar, insinuating that Maharashtra has been plagued by a “wandering spirit” for a considerable duration, resulting in political instability within the state and fracturing his party and family.
In response to PM Narendra Modi’s accusations that the Congress had received “truckloads of illicit funds” from Adani-Ambani, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief questioned why the BJP government had not initiated an investigation into whether industrialists Adani and Ambani had funneled illicit funds to his party.
“You blurt out whatever comes to mind, ‘you alleged that Rahul Gandhi ceased his criticism of Adani and Ambani because he amassed a truckload of funds’. Modi ji, you hold the highest office in the land. What were your Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, and CBI doing while trucks laden with cash were in transit? Were they preoccupied with traitors? If PM Modi had intelligence on the matter, the agencies should have acted. The PM ought to have addressed the issue of illicit funds, purportedly flowing from Ambani and Adani to the Congress,” he asserted.
Regarding Section 370, Uddhav clarified that it was not revoked by the BJP government but rather suspended to facilitate [Businessman Gautam] Adani’s acquisition of extensive tracts of land containing untapped lithium deposits, enabling him to profit before relocating his enterprise to Gujarat. Thackeray also condemned the use of baton charges, gunfire, and pellet rounds against reservation activist Manoj Jarange and villagers, alleging that “a directive from the upper echelons prompted the police to perpetrate such atrocities.”
He further implored the Prime Minister to exhibit restraint and desist from exploiting Hindu-Muslim sentiments for political gains. “Prime Minister, the rhetoric you employ befits not the stature of the office; the reputation of our nation is being tarnished nationwide. PM Modi, I beseech you to remain composed. Anoint yourself with Patanjali oil from Baba Ramdev and practice Kapal Bharti. Rest. Refrain from tarnishing my nation’s integrity. The BJP incessantly harps on Hindu-Muslim dichotomy; entrusting the governance of our nation to such individuals is untenable,” he concluded.
The fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for May 13th, with vote tallying set for June 4th.