Uddhav Thackeray slams fake Hindutva party for misleading India

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said there is a fake Hindutva party misleading the nation. He was responding to the BJP's statements questioning the Hindutva credentials of Shiv Sena.

A week ago, ex-CM of the state Devendra Fadnavis launched an attack against the ruling party over their 'Hindutva'. He alleged that BJP, not Shiv Sena, is the real Hindutva party and accused the party of forming an alliance with Congress which had questioned the existence of Lord Rama.

The Shiv Sena leader launched a counterattack at a mega rally at the Bandra-Kurla Complex. He said the BJP thinks they are the protectors of Hindutva. "What about the people here? Who are they?" He also took a dig at Fadnavis and said "there is a fake Hindutva party that's misleading the nation. We have kicked you out".

The event is publicised as the "roar of true Hindutva". Thackeray said he plans to unmask political rivals peddling a duplicate Hindutva ideology.

He added that Shiv Sena's restraint should not be considered a weakness. "BJP is behaving like a jilted lover by defaming Maharashtra". The Shiv Sena leader asked people to decide which government they want by considering the rate of unemployment and inflation in the country. "There is an attempt to create division in society. Do you want a government that sets homes on fire or one that ensures a fire is lit in your home".

Thackeray also stood by the decision to ally with NCP and alleged that in a similar situation, BJP will be singing praises of people like Nawab Malik.

Nawab Malik is an NCP leader arrested by the ED in a money laundering case linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim on February 23. Thackeray also brought up the BJP alliance with Mehbooba Mufti.

He further said even Dawood Ibrahim can become a minister if he shows interest in joining the BJP. "Tomorrow, they will make Dawood also a minister and they'll say oh it's not such a big deal."

Addressing the BJP's allegations of Shiv Sena moving away from the ideals of founder Bal Thackeray, the CM said BJP's mother body the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has never been part of the freedom struggle. "The Samyukta Maharashtra movement was created by my grandfather and assisted by my father and his brother Shrikant. But you know who dropped out. The Bharatiya Jan Sangh".

The Maharashtra CM also alleged that his cousin and MNS leader Raj Thackeray, who has been campaigning for the removal of loudspeakers from mosques, thinks he is Balasaheb by wearing a shawl. In reference to the popular film 'Lage Raho Munna Bhai', the chief minister said the MNS leader has a chemical imbalance in his brain. The MSN has been trying to highlight Bal Thackeray's estranged nephew Raj Thackeray as the "true heir".

Thackeray insisted that the party has Ram in its heart and he will visit Ayodhya on June 15.