On Tuesday (24th October), Maharashtra’s chief minister Eknath Shinde addressed Shiv Sena’s traditional annual Dussehra meeting at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. In his speech, he criticised Uddhav Thackeray. Addressing a huge rally at Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally at Azad Maidan, without naming Thackeray, Shinde said he had stabbed Bal Thackeray in the back by dishonesty with his ideological heritage. Eknath Shinde said that Uddhav Thackeray left the Hindutva ideology long ago and can now even embrace Islamic terrorist outfits like Hamas.
‘Shiv Teerth is at a place where Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology is continued’
Wishing one and all on the occasion of Dussehra, Eknath Shinde said, “This is an Azad meeting of an Azad Shiv Sena on the Azad Maidan. It is this Azad Maidan where people would stage protests in the pre-independence era against British rule. Balasaheb Thackeray used to address the Dussehra meeting on Shiv Teerth (Shivaji Park ground). People are holding their rallies at that place today. We are at Azad Maidan. But we believe that Shiv Teerth is at a place where Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology is continued.”
२४-१०-२०२३ 📍आझाद मैदान, मुंबई शिवसेनेचा भव्य दसरा मेळावा https://t.co/qgQWpg1zu0
— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 24, 2023
CM Eknath Shinde said, “I am the Chief Minister of this state. I could have easily held the meeting at Shivaji Park Ground last year as well as this year. But I do not want the state to witness unnecessary fights and troubles. Last year we held this meeting at Bandra Kurla Complex Ground. This year we are at Azad Maidan.”
Uddhav Thackeray can embrace terrorist outfits like Hamas
Eknath Shinde said, “It would not be surprising if they (Shiv Sena-UBT) ally with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). They would even embrace terrorist organisations like Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Lashkar-e-Taiba for their selfish purposes and power.”
Eknath Shinde added, “He buried Bal Thackeray’s Hindutva ideology for power and joined hands with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. Balasaheb had raised the slogan ‘Proudly say we are Hindus’ from Shiv Teerth, but slogans like ‘Proudly say we are Congressmen and socialists’ are being given from that place.”
आझाद शिवसेनेचा #दसरा_मेळावा आज आझाद मैदानात पार पडला, यावेळी बोलताना एकेकाळी याच दसरा मेळाव्यात आदरणीय बाळासाहेबांनी 'गर्व से कहो हम हिंदू है' चा नारा दिला होता मात्र आज तोच विचार मागे पडून काँग्रेसला साथ दिली जात आहे. मी राज्याचा मुख्यमंत्री असताना मागील वर्षी शिवाजी पार्कवर… https://t.co/9wLTmTCGqj pic.twitter.com/mwffmRzmy4
— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) October 24, 2023
Eknath Shinde also targeted Uddhav Thackeray for questioning the dates of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He said, “The parties that used to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by questioning the timeline for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya are now feeling embarrassed. They are now exposed. How will they go to Ayodhya now?”
Uddhav Thackeray wanted to become the chief minister of the state in 2004
Shinde claimed that Uddhav Thackeray had ambitions of becoming chief minister since 2004, but it could not happen. He said, “He wished to become the chief minister since 2004 but the ‘jugaad’ did not work. He showed that he had never been interested in this post. It was publicly stated that he accepted the responsibility for Sharad Pawar’s advice after the 2019 assembly elections. But the fact is that two persons were sent to Pawar to recommend his name for this post. He is wearing many masks. He takes advantage of the opportunity.”
Narendra Modi fulfilled the dreams of Balasaheb Thackeray
Eknath Shinde said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will come to power for the third consecutive time next year. We will send 45 MPs from Maharashtra to strengthen him. It was Modi who fulfilled Bal Thackeray’s dreams through the removal of Article 370 and the construction of Ram Mandir. People will bury the 10-headed I.N.D.I. alliance Ravana in the 2024 elections.”
Committed to Maratha Reservation
Eknath Shinde said, “The state government is committed to giving reservation to the Maratha community in a manner that the reservation will stand in the legal test. I appeal to Maratha youths not to suicide.
