New Delhi: Lashing out at Shiv Sena (UBT) faction chief Uddhav Thackeray for “burying” the Hindutva ideology of Bal Thackeray for power, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he wouldn’t be surprised if they tied up with terrorist groups “Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba” for their “selfish motives”.
Addressing a Dussehra rally at Mumbai's Azad Maidan on Tuesday, CM Shinde, without naming the former Maharashtra chief minister, accused him of backstabbing the late Sena founder with his “dishonesty” over the party’s ideological legacy.
“Won't be surprised if they (Shiv Sena-UBT) ally with Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and even hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba for their selfish motives and chair (power),” news agency PTI quoted CM Shinde as saying.
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"You have buried the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray by going with Congress and Samajwadis for power. Balasaheb had given 'Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai' slogan from 'Shivtirth' (Shivaji Park ground) but slogans like 'Garv se kaho hum Congressi and Samajwadi hai' are being given from that venue," CM Shinde added.
Taking further potshots at Uddhav Thackeray, CM Shinde said the former had been nurturing his ambitions for the chief ministerial post since 2004, however, things did not work out.
"It was his (Uddhav's) wish to become the CM since 2004 but the 'jugaad' didn't work out. He pretended that he was never interested in the post. It was said publicly that he accepted the responsibility (after the 2019 assembly elections) on the advice of Sharad Pawar. But the fact is that two persons were sent to Pawar to recommend his (Uddhav's) name for the post," PTI quoted the Maharashtra chief minister as saying.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray, too, held a Dussehra rally in central Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Tuesday.