Maharashtra chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray launched an all-out attack against the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the occasion of the historic 'Dasara Melava' of Shiv Sena.
The Dasara Melava is an annual function of the Shiv Sena party which was started by Bal Thackeray in 1966 from the Shivaji Park ground in Mumbai. Every year, the Sena chief addresses the Shiv Sainiks on various issues. This year, Uddhav Thackeray's speech was ridden with a Hindutva rhetoric where he schooled BJP-RSS on the contested ideology.
He said, "Everyone should keep their religions inside their homes and when they step out, the country should be our religion. That is my Hindutva!"
While addressing his party workers, he said "Hindutva is common between us and RSS, but our Hindutva is nationalism." He also added that "In 92-93 if not for Shiv Sena, you (BJP) would not have been existing."
Here Is Uddhav Thackeray's Full Speech In Marathi
" 'Maay Maro ani Gaay Jago' (Let The Mother Die and The Cow Live) is not my Hindutva," he added. "Home Ministry responded to an RTI which said that Hindutva is not in danger. The Neo-Hindus are a real threat for Hindutva."
After attacking the RSS-BJP on Hindutva, he said that he only became the CM of Maharashtra to fulfil the "Vachan" (promise) that he made to his father, Bal Thackeray. "Had they (BJP) completed the vachan and made Shiv Sena's CM, then I might have even quit politics," he said.
Diplomatic On Savarkar
Since Bal Thackeray's days, Shiv Sena has always cited Savarkar on various occasions. While speaking about Rajnath Singh's comments on the Hindutva icon, Thackeray said that the Defence Minister does have the "understanding" to comment on Savarkar and must avoid talking about him or even Mahatma Gandhi.
Uddhav Thackeray also raised questions on the Centre-State relationship saying that his government 'won't bow down' to the Centre.
“What are the rights of the Centre and of the states? At the time of making the Constitution, questions were raised on the powers of the Centre and the states, asking whether the states will have to bow down to the Centre," Maharashtra CM was quoted by Indian Express.
"Babasaheb Ambedkar had firmly said that like the Centre, the states too have sovereign rights and will not have to bow down to the Centre. In three scenarios such as an emergency, foreign affairs and invasion by foreign powers, the Centre has powers to interfere in state affairs,” said Thackeray.