Mumbai: Of their first joint avenue protest Saturday, leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) strongly referred to as for Maharashtra governor’s elimination for allegedly insulting the state’s icons, whereas the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) deflected by highlighting the Congress’ previous criticism of Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The be a part of agitation was staged by the MVA — comprising the Shiv Sea (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Nationalist Congress Celebration (NCP) and Congress — in opposition to the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra authorities, comprising the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and the BJP.
The agitation was primarily to protest in opposition to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s alleged disrespect of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji and the flare-ups on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border over the territorial battle between the 2 states, each at the moment underneath a BJP regime.
Whereas NCP president Sharad Pawar on the protest rally stated that “total Maharashtra will burn” if Koshyari isn’t eliminated, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray in a veiled taunt on the ruling events slammed them as “Maharashtra’s traitors” for not talking out in opposition to the governor’s feedback.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis slammed the MVA leaders’ statements asking why Shiv Sena (UBT) didn’t converse up when Congress leaders repeatedly “disrespected” Savarkar.
The BJP Mumbai unit, in the meantime, staged a ‘Maafi Maango’ (we demand apology) andolan concurrently to protest in opposition to controversial feedback revamped the previous month by Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders comparable to Sanjay Raut and Sushma Andhare on Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the Warkari sect.
Additionally learn: Meet Sushma Andhare, Uddhav Sena lady chief who’s bringing again Balasaheb’s ‘firebrand’ fashion
‘Insult’ of personalities
Addressing the protest, which began from Byculla’s Richardson & Cruddas and culminated close to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, NCP’s Pawar stated: “Iconic personalities of Maharashtra are revered all through the nation, however the governor makes objectionable remarks about the identical personalities. He ought to be eliminated on the earliest, in any other case your complete Maharashtra will burn. A lesson must be taught to those that use dishonourable phrases about Maharashtra’s nice personalities.”
Equally, Uddhav Thackeray stated, “Immediately, all events have united. Solely the traitors of Maharashtra are standing individually. Oust the governor, that is our demand. I don’t think about Bhagat Singh Koshyari to be the governor anymore. I respect the chair, however we is not going to tolerate anybody sitting there and hitting out at anyone.”
Talking at a perform in Aurangabad final month, Koshyari had referred to as Chhatrapati Shivaji an “icon of older instances” and named “modern-day” icons comparable to B.R. Ambedkar and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, prompting extreme criticism from the Opposition MVA.
In a letter to Union House Minister Amit Shah final week, although, Koshyari stood by his phrases, saying naming historic icons alongside fashionable ones didn’t diminish their significance or quantity to disrespect.
Chatting with reporters, Fadnavis said the BJP doesn’t stand for disrespect of any icon of Maharashtra and the MVA’s agitation is “purely for political capital”.
“My query is, significantly to Shiv Sena. When Congress every single day disrespected Swatantraveer Savarkar, at the moment why didn’t you lead a protest or speak about it? Isn’t Swatantraveer Savarkar a significant icon? That is only for political capital,” Fadnavis stated.
Final month, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s feedback on Savarkar throughout his Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra had created a rift between the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT). Thackeray had stated that he didn’t agree with Gandhi’s remarks, whereas including that his get together’s alliance with the Congress was to “protect freedom”.
Fadnavis additional stated, “Those that criticise Warkaris, saints, those that don’t know Babasaheb Ambedkar’s birthplace…with what face are these individuals main this protest?”
The BJP chief was referring to Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s assertion that Ambedkar was born in Maharashtra when he was really born in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow, and sure statements of Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare which have irked some leaders from the Warkari sect.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Additionally learn: ‘Life caricatured for political features’ — How Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress have appropriated Savarkar