Despite the Shinde camp’s claim to be real Shiv Sena, the Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in a spirited speech on the occasion of the customary Dussehra rally, exhorted the Sainiks to continue to keep faith and confidence in him and support him saying that once again he will make the Sainik Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Uddhav slammed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and rebels claiming them traitors. ‘’Traitors have become ministers only for a short time. However, the stamp of the traitor is permanent and that stamp cannot be erased,’’ he said. He called upon Shiv Sainiks to be ready to defeat the traitors in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra.
He slammed BJP and union Home Minister Amit Shah in particular for his call to finish Shiv Sena and for questioning Shiv Sena’s Hindutva. ‘’I have left BJP not Hindutva. Our Hindutva is Rashtriyatva which was practised by Balasaheb Thackeray. I am ready for a debate with the BJP and Shinde camp to let them come. I will make my argument,’’ he said.
Uddhav referred to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visit to the mosque and asked did he quit Hindutva? ‘’Bhagwat had gone for discussion with Muslim leaders who termed him Rashtrapita. We have suggested in the past that Bhagwat should be made the President of India but it was not accepted. Shiv Sena broke alliance with BJP not Hindutva,’’ he noted. He also thereby told Shinde camp and BJP that they have no right to question Shiv Sena’s Hindutva.
Uddhav countered Shinde camp’s criticism of joining hands with NCP and Congress for the sake of power by compromising on Hindutva. ‘’BJP backstabbed us as they ditched the promise of equal sharing of power. Therefore, the decision was taken to ally with Congress and NCP to teach BJP a lesson. It was decided in the meeting with Amit Shah that Shiv Sena will get CM’s post for two and half years but now he is denying it. Why didn't these traitors raise their voices then?’’he asked. Uddhav termed Shinde camp as a father stealing child gang.
Uddhav took a swipe at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying that he has returned not as CM but as DCM. He referred to Fadnavis’ statement that speakers at the rallies should speak within the framework of law as the law will take its own course. ‘’I want to tell Fadnavis that we also know the law. However, I have to tell him that the same law should be applied to those from Shinde camp who are giving threats.
‘’If you take actions only against my Shiv Sainiks, we will never sit still. Threats are being issued. Notices of externment are being issued against Shiv Sainiks. We will not tolerate this,’’ he warned.
