Mumbai (Maharashtra), India, March 18 (ANI): The Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde initiated a keen criticism against the Shiv Sena ( Uddhav Thackeray ) faction when speaking to the Legislative Council about the recent disturbances in Nagpur.
Shinde reacted confrontationally to the MLA. Anil Parab In his remarks, where he likened himself to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, he also charged the opposition with prioritizing power over principles.
In discussing the unrest in Nagpur, Shinde also took aim at Samajwadi Party member Abu Azmi due to his comments about Aurangzeb. He charged him with Uddhav Thackeray -led group engaged in political duplicity, stating that although they outwardly denounced BJP, they had privately entertained the idea of forming an alliance.
"Throughout 2022, I refrained from doing anything secretive. Every action of mine was carried out transparently and with great courage. However, your leadership (the Thackeray group) clandestinely convened meetings with BJP representatives and indicated their readiness to forge an alliance before subsequently reversing their position," observed Shinde in the Council.
Responding to Anil Parab Earlier, he had claimed that he was subjected to torture similar to what Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj endured when switching allegiances. However, Shinde refuted this assertion. He stated, "What kind of torture have you experienced? I am aware that once actions were taken against you, you submitted too. Yet, upon release from the case, you changed sides just as your leaders did."
Disputing the analogy with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Shinde highlighted the ruthless killing of the Maratha leader by Aurangzeb.
His eyeballs were removed, his tongue was severed, his skin was stripped away, and salt was applied to his injuries. Did you endure these horrors? You surrendered for power and violated the pact for the position of Chief Minister," he alleged, charging the opposition with plotting to imprison BJP members when the Maha Vikas Aghadi administration was in charge.
Regarding the event in Nagpur, Shinde said that accounts from witnesses suggest the unrest was deliberately organized beforehand.
Each day, between 100 to 150 motorcycles were typically parked at a specific location within the violence-torn zone; however, on that particular day, none of the vehicles linked to the vandals could be spotted there. It raises questions about how numerous Molotov cocktails, clubs, and blades came into possession so quickly. Clearly, this seemed like an orchestrated event,” he accused.
"We boldly released the bow and arrow, which the Shiv Sena had transferred to Congress," Shinde insisted, adding that the Shiv Sena (UBT) does not have the authority to discuss Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj because they have embraced the concepts advocated by Aurangzeb.
The Deputy Chief Minister restated his position, stressing that his political choices were influenced by the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray and Hindutva. (ANI)