Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Thursday made sharp comments against Uddhav Thackeray during party’s annual Dussehra rally.
Shinde-led Shiv Sena`s Dussehra rally was held at NESCO grounds in Mumbai`s Goregaon.
Eknath Shinde, while addressing the rally, called Uddhav Thackeray a “conspiracy chief”, accusing him of politically finishing off his own party workers.
He claimed that Thackeray had betrayed his loyal supporters and weakened the very people who helped build the party.
Addressing a large gathering of party members and supporters.
He further questioned Uddhav Thackeray’s future as a political leader.
“I doubt even his shadow will remain with him after the local body elections,” Eknath Shinde said.
Shinde also said that his faction of Shiv Sena is carrying forward Balasaheb Thackeray’s true ideology.
The two Shiv Sena factions held separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai on Thursday. The Uddhav Thackeray`s Shiv Sena (UBT) rally was held at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai.
Speaking on the upcoming civic body polls in Maharashtra, Shinde said that the party would fight the local body polls in alliance with Mahayuti.
He said, “Shiv Sena will contest local body polls in Maharashtra as part of Mahayuti alliance.
Shinde further said that Mahayuti alliance has to win Mumbai civic body polls for city`s progress and development.
He strongly criticised the previous UPA government for not taking military action against Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Speaking at the rally, Shinde said the decision not to retaliate was a “betrayal of the country”.
“After the 26/11 attacks, when India was bleeding, no action was taken. That was a betrayal of the people,” Shinde said during his speech. He also claimed that former Union Minister P. Chidambaram had admitted the Congress-led UPA government didn’t respond militarily because of pressure from foreign nations.
Shinde compared the inaction after 26/11 to more recent responses under the current government. Referring to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “Bullets were answered with cannon balls. That is how a strong government should act.”
He praised the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for what he described as a bold and decisive approach in tackling terrorism.
(with PTI inputs)
