During his address to party officials, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asserting that if considering safeguarding the constitution as terrorism, then ‘he’ would label himself as a terrorist.
Uddhav Thackeray stated, “He (Eknath Shinde) speaks of urban Naxalism. Is advocating against dictatorship and calling for the preservation of democracy considered Naxalism and terrorism? If defending democracy is labeled as terrorism, then I am a terrorist. If protecting the constitution and the nation is seen as terrorism, then I am a terrorist.”
Thackeray remarked during an event held in Mumbai on Wednesday evening, marking the 58th Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena.
Thackeray stated that using central agencies against opposition leaders constituted “government Naxalism.” He emphasized, “This practice is equivalent to Naxalism and is more perilous than urban Naxalism. It exploits authority to dismantle opposition parties, undermine a competent government, and coerce opposition leaders into joining your party. This form of Naxalism undermines democracy.”
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Uddhav Thackeray Also challenged BJP
Thackeray also challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), former allies in Lok Sabha elections, to contest assembly polls without relying on the image of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and the party symbol ‘bow and arrow’.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief further dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate campaigning for the upcoming assembly elections, expected to be held in October.
He also dared Modi to visit Andhra Pradesh and declare that he will fulfill everything Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has promised in his manifesto.
Thackeray also expressed gratitude to independent journalists and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee for their support to the INDIA alliance and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which he credited with safeguarding ‘democracy’.
Regarding speculations about a potential reconciliation with the BJP, Thackeray firmly stated that he would never align with those who attempted to “destroy” his party.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Congress secured 13 out of 48 seats, BJP won nine seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed nine seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) secured eight seats. Conversely, Shiv Sena obtained seven seats while the NCP secured one seat.
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