News Analysis India

Tag: Uddhav

  • ‘MLAs were misled; We will rebuild the party’

    Express News Service

    Priyanka Chaturvedi is Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member and the party’s national spokesperson. She alleges many Sena MLAs are being “scanned” by various investigating agencies. She claims the party had done everything to address the concerns of Eknath Sinde. She sees only a slim chance of a patch-up now, although CM Uddhav Thackeray will take the final call. Excerpts from an interview with Sudhir Suryawanshi:

    Why such a big migration from Shiv Sena?If you look at the list of the Shiv Sena’s rebel MLAs — Eknath Shinde, Yamini Jadhav, Pratap Sarnaik and others — it would be clear that most of them are under the scanner of Central investigating agencies. They have been told to either join the rebel group or be ready to go to jail. Given the option of surrender or survival, they have preferred the latter. Some MLAs were misled and taken to Thane and Guwahati. They did not understand the legal issues and put their career at stake.

    There are allegations that Uddhav was inaccessible to MLAs…When the Maha Vikas Aghadi shaped up, everyone understood that in the three-party government, there would be issues. We even chalked out the minimum agenda to avoid any conflict. Then the pandemic struck. The state government worked hard and earned admiration. After the pandemic, the CM went for a spinal surgery. It was our job to support him. Eknarth Shinde was given the urban development department that is generally kept with the CM.

    Any chance of a patch up?That call will be taken by Uddhav Thackeray. However, I don’t see any patch-up with Eknath Shinde because he has misled our MLAs. There are some genuine MLAs trapped in Guwahati. They want to return. We are getting phone calls. At least three rebels are in touch with the party leadership.

    Do you believe BJP is behind this?Without BJP’s support, no one will dare to leave Shiv Sena. The BJP has orchestrated this by facilitating resources. In Surat, BJP leaders were seen with Sena MLAs. The hotel arrangements in Surat were made by BJP. They (BJP) arranged a private jet to take the MLAs to Guwahati, and the Assam CM met them. 

    What is the way out now?Shiv Sena has faced such revolts. Our grassroots cadre is with us. They are charged up, as they feel cheated. Last time, despite a big revolt, we came into power twice. As Uddhav Thackeray says, we have to rebuild the party.

  • Bombay HC quashes Mumbai Police FIR against Sunaina Holey, who mocked Uddhav, Aaditya Thackeray

    The Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed a Mumbai Police FIR against Sunaina Holey for her tweet allegedly promoting enmity between two communities.

    The Court said that the tweet did not name any communities and it has to be judged from the perspective of a prudent man, reported Bar and Bench

    According to Bar and Bench, “Neither community nor religion is named. If test of strong or prudent person is applied said tweet cannot be said to have created hatred between community or show the petitioner has mens rea,” the Court said.

    The order was passed by a Bench of Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik on a plea by Holey to quash the FIR registered against her after she tweeted a video which allegedly had the possibility to promote enmity between religious communities.

    Aside from the FIR quashed on Wednesday, two more FIRs have been registered against her in connection with her tweets against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and State Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray.

  • Heavy rains in Maharashtra claimed 47 lives, situation in Karnataka critical, PM speaks to CMs of both states

    Due to heavy rains and release of water from large dams, the flood situation in several parts of Karnataka remained grim on Friday even as heavy rains and flooding in the neighboring states of Pune, Aurangabad and Konkan division of Maharashtra claimed 47 lives in the last three days. Has been lost and millions of hectares of crops have been damaged. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and assured all possible help from the Center.In western Maharashtra, 28 people have died in rain-related incidents. This part of the state comes under Pune division. 16 people died in Aurangabad division of central Maharashtra and three in coastal Konkan. According to Pune’s Divisional Commissioner Office, more than 2300 houses have been damaged due to heavy rains and floods and 21000 people have been evacuated to safer places. In Pune, Solapur, Satara and Sangli districts, 57,000 hectares of crops like sugarcane, soybean, vegetable, paddy, pomegranate and cotton have been damaged.

  • In “Secular” Row For Uddhav Thackeray And Governor, Sharad Pawar’s Letter To PM Modi

    Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has reacted strongly to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the reopening of places of worship. The Shiv Sena ally wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was “shocked and surprised” at the language used by the Governor.

    “I must mention here that I agree the Hon. Governor can have his independent views and opinions on the issue. I also appreciate the prerogative of the Governor to convey his views to the Chief Minister. However, I am shocked and surprised to see the letter of the Governor released to the media and the kind of language used in the letter,” he said in the letter to PM.

    On Monday, the Governor wrote to Uddhav Thackeray “requesting him to announce forthwith” the reopening of places of worship with Covid precautions. “You have been a strong votary of Hindutva. You had publicly espoused your devotion for Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as Chief Minister. You had visited the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja on Ashadhi Ekadashi,” Mr Koshyari wrote.

    “I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of places of worship time and again or have you turned ‘secular’ yourselves, a term you hated?”

    The Chief Minister retorted that his Hindutva did not require a certificate from the Governor or anyone and that he would take a decision after careful consideration. “You said I am getting divine premonitions? Maybe you get them but I am not so big,” he wrote back in Marathi.

    Mr Thackeray reminded the Governor that the reopening of temples or delaying it “is not a question of secularism” and questioned whether Mr Koshyari had forgotten his own constitutional oath.

  • PM Modi releases autobiography of Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the autobiography of Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil and rename Pravara Rural Education Society as ‘Loknete Dr. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Pravara Rural Education Society’, via video conferencing.

    Addressing the event via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said: “The autobiography of Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil may have been released today, but the stories of his life will be found in every region of Maharashtra. I have also seen how Balasaheb Vikhe Patil had dedicated his life to the development of Maharashtra. I am very grateful to Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, his family and all my colleagues in Ahmednagar, who invited me to join this occasion.”

    Patil has always stressed on how to make politics a medium for meaningful change in society, how to solve the problems of the village and the poor. This is what made him different from others,” he added.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Ahmednagar MP Dr Sujay Vikhe Patil, Officials of Pravara Medical Trust, and Pravara Sugar Factory were also present during the event.