Uddhav attacks Modi

Asks, ‘who are you reassuring’

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the Bharatiya Janata Party, questioning the political ‘message’ behind Modi’s reported assurance to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his MPs: “Do not fear, I am standing by you.”

Thackeray asked whether the Prime Minister’s remark was meant merely to assuage the Shinde camp - or whether it carried a loaded political message – especially with the Supreme Court hearing the case of the long-pending dispute over the Shiv Sena name and election symbol.

“The PM said: ‘Do not fear, I am standing by you.’ To whom was this message conveyed? Was it a threat to the court? Was it meant for Amit Shah, Devendra Fadnavis or the administration?” Thackeray asked, seeking an explanation to the context of the remark.

On Friday, political eyebrows shot up when Shinde, along with MPs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction were invited for a breakfast meeting by Modi in New Delhi.

The closed-door rendezvous came even as the Supreme Court continued hearing the dispute over the Shiv Sena’s name and symbol, possibly now in the final stages, prompting Thackeray to question the timing and political significance of the visit.

He made it clear that his party would apprise the Supreme Court of “this objectionable behaviour” when the crucial case is being heard.

Shah-Sena Jibe

Taking a swipe at the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Thackeray pointed out how in the recent past, whenever its leaders travelled to the national capital, they would call on the “chief” of the “Shah-Sena”, referring sarcastically to Amit Shah.

“Now perhaps their boss has changed, so they no longer need to meet the Shah-Sena chief and are going directly to Modi,” he said, adding that yesterday, while Shah was in Mumbai, the meeting with the PM took place in New Delhi.

The SS (UBT) supremo attempted to make a wider political interpretation, suggesting it could also be read as a ‘signal’ to potential defectors in other parties -- “Don’t worry, betray your party, come over to us and I will stand by you.”

Jeering the Shinde camp, Thackeray wondered why they continue to be scared even after being ‘washed clean’ in the BJP’s political washing machine, and yet need to scramble to the PM with their tails between the legs.

He said that ‘the two Shiv Senas’ dispute is no longer merely a battle between rival factions, but had become “a test for the very survival of Indian democracy”.

“The virus of treachery is killing democracy,” Thackeray declared, appealing to all people who value the Constitution and democratic institutions to fight the battle to save Democracy unitedly.