No icons to bank on, BJP is stealing Bal Thackeray: Uddhav Thackeray
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Ratnagiri: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday accused the BJP of trying to steal his father Bal Thackeray who founded Shiv Sena.
Uddhav Thackeray was addressing his party’ first outreach rally in Khed of Ratnagiri district after losing party name and symbol ‘bow and arrow’, when he called the BJP ‘most corrupt’ and ‘opportunist’, according to The Indian Express.
In order to validate his point, Thackeray said the BJP had earlier appropriated national icons like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel from Gujarat, and Subhas Chandra Bose from West Bengal and now it is Bal Thackeray from Maharashtra.
He dared the BJP to seek votes not in the name of his father but Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Expanding further he said the BJP has no icon to bank on, hence the party is stealing Bal Thackeray.
Narrowing down his attack, Thackeray said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde “stole” his father’s name.
“Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in Gujarat, but Patel’s name has an aura and following there, so they stole Patel itself. Then they stole Subhas Babu (Bose). Here they are stealing Balasaheb. I challenge, ask for votes in Maharashtra using Modi’s name. Ask for votes without using Shiv Sena’s name and Balasaheb’s name and photo,” he reportedly said.
Accusing the Shinde faction and the BJP of stealing his the party’s symbol ‘bow and arrow’, he told the crowd anyone asking them to vote for ‘bow and arrow’ is a thief.
Thackeray said the BJP offered its support to Conrad Sangma to form the government in Meghalaya despite Home Minister Amit Shah had made serious allegations against Sangma’s family during campaigns.
“But in the election, the Sangma family taught them such a lesson that Modi had to tweet. Don’t you have shame, first you call them corrupt and now for power, you are willing to form the government with them,” Thackeray was quoted as saying.
Thackeray also said once there were real Hindus in BJP including Sadhus and saints on its dais where today opportunists are sitting.
