Uddhav’s attack on Fadnavis, the reason given for sitting next to Mehbooba Mufti in the meeting of opposition parties

Opposition Parties Meeting in Patna: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who came under fire from the BJP for sitting next to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti at a meeting of opposition parties in Patna, said on Saturday that he did so deliberately.

Addressing party workers, Thackeray claimed that Mehbooba told him that the BJP’s alliance with the PDP was on the condition that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, would not be removed.

Thackeray criticized Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement on Friday regarding the meeting of opposition parties in Patna as an attempt by them to “save their political families and dynasty”. Thackeray said that a senior BJP leader should not stoop so low. Thackeray said, “I deliberately sat next to him.”

Hitting out at rivals of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Fadnavis on Friday said the meeting of opposition parties was not to oust the Narendra Modi-led government at the Center but to save dynastic politics.

Fadnavis said, “Uddhav Thackeray used to criticize us for forging an alliance with (PDP leader) Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir. Now he (Thackeray) is sitting next to Mehbooba Mufti and talking about alliances.”

To this, Thackeray retorted, “Those who are with you are pure. When you went with Mehbooba, then you (BJP) gave up Hindutva. We will tear the veil of your fake Hindutva.

Thackeray waved pictures of Mehbooba along with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and said his party had not abandoned Hindutva.

Hitting back at Fadnavis, Thackeray said, “I am very sensitive about my family. Don’t stoop so low. You also have a family and WhatsApp chats about your family have come to the fore. We haven’t started talking about it because if we want to talk about his (Fadnavis) family, he (Fadnavis) will have to do ‘shavasan’.”

Thackeray was apparently referring to a WhatsApp conversation between Fadnavis’ wife Amruta and suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani and their daughter Aniksha. The conversations are part of the charge sheet against Jaisinghani, Aniksha and their cousin Nirmal for demanding bribe and attempting to extort money from Amruta Fadnavis.

The charge sheet includes several screenshots of WhatsApp conversations and messages between Amrita and Jaisinghani-Aniksha.

Hitting back at Thackeray, Fadnavis said that he, his family and the BJP are like an open book.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also targeted Thackeray. Shinde said that after the meeting in Patna, the revolt of the Shiv Sena MLAs against Thackeray has been vindicated.

A rebellion in the Shiv Sena led by Shinde had brought down the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Thackeray last year.

Shinde accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva, saying he sided with the Congress, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the PDP and the Janata Dal (United), which Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had bitterly criticized.

The Chief Minister said that these people opposed the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, removal of Article 370 and Hindutva. Shinde said that coming together of opposition parties is a victory of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde Supporting Fadnavis, he said that it is unfortunate that the family members are being dragged into politics.

Terming Uddhav Thackeray as ‘ungrateful’, Shinde said both Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had helped Thackeray in the past.

Shinde said in a tweet that his and 39 other Shiv Sena MLAs’ rebellion against Thackeray last year after an opposition meeting in Patna was vindicated.

Shinde accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva, saying he has joined the league of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Janata Dal United, which was strongly criticized by Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.

He said that these people also opposed the construction of Ram temple, abolition of Article 370 and Hindutva.

Shinde said that coming together of opposition parties is in a way a victory of Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.