News Analysis India

Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Maharashtra MP, MLA couple arrested over Hanuman Chalis row shifted to separate Mumbai jails

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police have shifted independent MP Navneet Rana to the Byculla women’s jail here, while her MLA husband Ravi Rana was taken to Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai amid tight security, an official said on Monday.

    The couple was arrested on Saturday after they gave a call for the chanting of Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai, which had triggered angry protests by Shiv Sainiks.

    The Mumbai Police later slapped the sedition charge on the politician couple.

    On Sunday, a Mumbai court remanded the Rana couple in 14-day judicial custody.

    Subsequently, Navneet Rana, the MP from Amravati in Maharashtra, was late Sunday night taken to the Byculla women’s jail.

    Her husband Ravi Rana, the MLA from Badnera in Amravati, was first taken to the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai, but due to lack of adequate space there, he was taken to the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai after completion of the legal formalities, the official said.

    Earlier, a case was registered against Ranas under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 37(1) and 135 of the Bombay Police Act.

    Later, the police also added IPC Section 124-A (sedition) in the case against them.

    Under IPC Section 124-A, the offence of sedition is committed when any person by words or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law.

    The police had also registered another FIR against Ranas for allegedly obstructing police from performing their duty and resisting arrest at their residence in suburban Khar, the official said.

    Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil had on Sunday termed “appropriate” the arrest of the Rana couple.

    The police had also arrested 13 Shiv Sena workers on Sunday for allegedly protesting outside the Khar residence of Ranas on Saturday.

    The party workers were later released on bail, police earlier said.

  • PM Modi receives Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award, Uddhav skips event 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award on Sunday and remembered the iconic singer as an artiste who was an integral part of nation-building and will be missed on Rakhi.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray skipped the event amid a tussle between BJP and Sena.

    “Lata Didi, apart from being the queen of melody, was my elder sister. She taught generations the language of love and compassion. I feel fortunate that she loved me like an elder sister. After many decades, this will be the first Rakhi when Didi won’t be here,” Modi said in his award acceptance speech.

    Lata Mangeshkar died at 92 in February following multiple-organ failure.

    Thackeray and his family members met 80-year-old Chandrabhaga Shinde, who became the face of protests by Shiv Sena workers against Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana a day earlier, at her residence in Parel in the evening.

    Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad tweeted the invitation card of the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award ceremony, saying it didn’t mention the name of Uddhav Thackeray.

    “The Mangeshkar family avoided mentioning the name of the Chief Minister on the invitation card of the Lata Mangeshkar Award Ceremony. Their role is incomprehensible. This act of the Mangeshkars is an insult to 12 crore Marathi people,” Awhad tweeted.

    In his speech, PM Modi said Lata Mangeshkar’s voice enthralled the audience for over 80 years, from the era of “gramophone, CD, DVD, pen drive, digital music to apps”.

    “The journey of songs and the world ran through the journey of Lata Didi, who gave voice to five generations of actors and made India proud. Her journey on this planet came to an end at a time when our country is celebrating Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. She gave voice to India, even before its Independence. The 75-year journey of the country was always tied to her ‘sur’. Our entire nation is grateful for the contribution of the Mangeshkar family to the country. Apart from singing, the passion of ‘rashtra bhakti’ that was within her, was due to her father,” the prime minister said.

    Modi received the award on Sunday, which marked the 80th death anniversary of Master Deenanath Mangeshkar, the singing legend’s father.

    The prime minister said he generally stays away from felicitation ceremonies but made an exception to receive the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award named after the legendary singer whom he considered his “elder sister”.

    “I generally keep myself away from such felicitation ceremonies. I cannot adjust myself (in such programmes). But when an award is named after an elder sister like Lata Mangeshkar, then it becomes an obligation for me to accept it because of the affection and right of the Mangeshkar family over me,” he said.

    Modi said when he was contacted for this award, he told his assistants to confirm his presence at once.

    “I informed my staff that I will plan other things later. I could not say no to such an event. I dedicate this award to all Indians,” the prime minister added.

    He said Lata didi always used to say that a person becomes great by his deeds and not by age.

    “I think we all can learn from her thoughts,” the PM added.

    Noted musician and Lata Mangeshkar’s younger brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar couldn’t attend the event as he was admitted to a hospital, his singer son Adinath Mangeshkar said at the function.

    The 84-year-old musician, younger brother of Lata didi and Asha Bhosle, will be discharged within ten days, Adinath said without divulging the cause of his hospitalisation.

    Modi wished Hridaynath Mangeshkar a speedy recovery at the start of his address.

    The Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar will be given every year to an individual who has made a “path-breaking, spectacular and exemplary” contribution to the nation, its people and society, according to the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Charitable Trust, which has instituted the award.

  • Attack on me sponsored by Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha government: Kirit Somaiya

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A day after Shiv Sena supporters hurled footwear and water bottles at the SUV of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya outside Khar police station in Mumbai, the leader on Sunday claimed the attack was “sponsored” by the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra.

    Somaiya had gone to the police station on Saturday to meet arrested independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana, whose earlier call for chanting Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ had angered the Sena cadres.

    Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Somaiya claimed, ‘The attack on me was sponsored by the Uddhav Thackeray government. Some 70-80 Shiv Sena workers had gathered at the gate of Khar police station when I visited it.”

    “I had personally informed police that I might be attacked by Shiv Sena goons and it later happened,” he said.

    The BJP leader claimed that a false FIR was registered by police in his name. “Such false FIR can only be registered in the regime of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He and Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey are behind it,” Somaiya further claimed and demanded that Pandey be replaced immediately.

    Somaiya also said he will go to New Delhi and meet Union home secretary in connection with the case. The BJP leader had on Saturday tweeted that he was injured in the attack by “Shiv Sena goons”.

    Somaiya reached the Khar police station late evening in support of Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana who were arrested earlier in the day on the charge of “creating enmity between different groups”.

    Shiv Sena supporters, who had gathered outside the police station, protested against Somaiya’s visit and shouted slogans.

    While the BJP leader was leaving the police station in the SUV, a group of protesters hurled footwear and water bottles at his vehicle. Somaiya then travelled to the Bandra police station to file a complaint against Sena supporters.

  • Hindutva is in Shiv Sena’s blood, says Anil Desai as party workers try to break into MLA Ravi Rana’s residence 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena workers on Saturday morning broke through the barricades and tried to enter the premises of the Khar residence of Maharashtra MLA Ravi Rana and his wife MP Navneet Rana, who have decided to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s house here, police said.

    However, the police brought the situation under control and stopped the party workers from going further, an official said.

    The Ranas had on Friday said that they would recite Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’, the personal residence of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in suburban Bandra at 9 am on Saturday.

    Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai said, “‘Matoshree’ is a temple for Shiv Sainiks. Hindutva is in Shiv Sena’s blood, nobody should teach us Hindutva. People are aware of the work done during the pandemic by CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.”

    Shiv Sena workers, who have strongly objected to the politician couple’s plan, have been camping outside ‘Matoshree’ since Friday morning.

    Taking an aggressive stand, the party leaders and workers have said they will not let the couple go back without ‘prasad’ “if they dared to turn up”.

    “Around 8.45 am, angry Shiv Sena supporters broke through the barricades placed at a distance of around 50 meters from the apartment where the Ranas own a flat in suburban Khar. They tried to enter the apartment premises. Shiv Sena supporters raised slogans in support of Thackeray and dared the couple to step out of the residence,” the police official said.

    However, the police personnel deployed at the spot brought the situation under control and dissuaded the party workers from indulging in anything that would create a law and order problem, he said.

    On Friday, Mumbai police had served a notice to Amaravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband, Badnera MLA Ravi Rana, asking them not to disturb the law and order situation in the city.

    Navneet Rana has been provided Y category security by the central government.

    Ravi Rana had earlier told reporters here that he had demanded the chief minister read Hanuman Chalisa on Hanuman Jayanti “to rid Maharashtra of crises and attain peace for the state,” but Thackeray had “refused” to do so.

    The city police have stepped up security outside ‘Matoshree’.

    Barricades have been placed on the road leading to the Thackeray residence to avoid crowding, the official said.

    “In order to maintain law and order situation, the police have increased security and deployed large number of personnel outside ‘Matoshree’,” the official said.

    Early this morning, senior police officers, including zonal DCP Manjunath Singe, visited the place and took stock of security deployment, he said.

    Besides ‘Matoshree’, the police have also increased security at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of CM Thackeray in south Mumbai.

    A Shiv Sena supporter camping outside ‘Matoshree’ said, “We have accepted the challenge of the Rana couple. Let them come, we are ready to welcome them and give them ‘prasad’.”

  • ‘Don’t be andhbhakts’: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray hails minister Nitin Raut’s book on Ambedkar

    By PTI

    NAGPUR Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that people should spread the teachings of their gods in the right way rather than becoming “andhbhakts” (blind illogical followers). He was speaking after virtually releasing state minister Nitin Raut’s book ‘Ambedkar on Population Policy’.

    “Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts guide us and show us the way forward. He not only framed the Constitution but also told us the obstacles that may come up and how to overcome them,” he said.

    Asking people to follow the legendary jurist and social reformer’s followings in the true spirit and to spread it to all, Thackeray said, unfortunately, there was a wave of “andhbhakts” at the moment. “The true follower will understand the teaching of his God and spread it to all. The blind follower will only praise superficially and then sometimes change his affection,” the CM added.

    Thackeray praised Raut for coming up with a well-researched book, while the latter said the MVA government in the state must implement suggestions given by Babasaheb Ambedkar and initiate welfare programmes based on them.

  • ‘We left BJP, not Hindutva,’ says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray 

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that BJP has not taken the Hindutva patent, and Shiv Sena is a real Hindutva party that always comes forward to protect a Hindu during a crisis.

    Uddhav Thackeray was virtually campaigning for the Congress party candidate Jayshree Jadhav for the Kolhapur-North by-election.

    He said that BJP does not mean Hindutva. Shiv Sena broke away from BJP, not from the Hindutva ideology.

    “BJP’s Hindutva is power-hungry Hindutva. They can make an alliance with any party for power. In Jammu and Kashmir, they shared power with Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who supported the ‘terrorist.’ BJP can go to any extent to get power. Therefore, people should not believe in their Hindutva. Balasaheb Thackeray was the Hindu Hruday Samrat and he will remain Hindu Hruday Samrat. Nowadays, many people tried to copy him, but they will not succeed,” Thackeray noted.

    He further appealed to the Shiv Sena workers and leaders to cast their vote for Congress candidates in by-elections. He said that once Shiv Sena gives its word, it never changes like BJP.

    “BJP had given equal power-sharing promise but they changed the word at last moment. Therefore, we have to form the government with Congress and the NCP for the larger interest of Maharashtra. We have not broken the alliance with BJP, but BJP has changed its word. If Amit Shah adores Balasaheb Thackeray, then why he could not fulfill the word of equal power-sharing given in the meeting?” the Shiv Sena president asked.

    Thackeray also criticised the central government for gas and fuel price rises. He said that the central government pat their backs and blow the trumpets saying they give free rations to people.  “Let me tell you, the free ration is not given from the BJP’s private bank account. It is the public and honest taxpayer’s money. The ration is given but what about the gas to cook the food? People cannot afford to fill the cylinders to refill. The fuel prices are also going up every day,” the Maharashtra chief minister said.

    The central government asks the state government to reduce fuel prices, but they keep on increasing the gas and fuel prices every day. “We are yet to get our GST money back from the central government,” Thackeray said.

    Moreover, he pointed out that in every election, from gram Panchayat to Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photos are used. “Sometimes, I wonder, whether Narendra Modi is the prime minister of India or Sarpanch of any village. Many senior BJP leaders’ photos including Atal Bihari Vajpayee are missing from the BJP’s posters and banners. There is only one man everywhere,” he said.

  • BJP doesn’t hold Hindutva patent: Uddhav, says Bal Thackeray led saffron agenda

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the BJP doesn’t hold “patent” on Hindutva and claimed that the late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray had showed BJP that the combination of “saffron and Hindutva” will help in achieving power in Centre.

    Thackeray also said Sena has always been committed to the “bhagva” (saffron) and Hindutva “unlike BJP which had different names like Bharatiya Jan Sangh and Jan Sangh which propagated different ideologies”.

    Joining virtually the campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) candidate Jayashree Jadhav, who belongs to Congress, for the April 12 bypoll from the Kolhapur North seat, Thackeray also blamed BJP for the defeat of the Shiv Sena nominee from the constituency in the 2019 polls despite the alliance between the two parties at that time.

    He wondered if BJP had had a hidden alliance with Congress in this constituency in the 2019 polls.

    “The BJP doesn’t have the patent for Hindutva. I wonder had Lord Ram not been born what issue the BJP would have raised in politics. Since BJP is bereft of issues it is talking about religion and (spreading) hatred,” Thackeray said.

    Thackeray said it was his father Bal Thackeray who had shown them (BJP) that saffron and Hindutva will lead them on the road to Delhi.

    Speaking on the Kolhapur North bypoll, Thackeray said that votes of Congress increased in the 2019 polls ((in Kolhapur North) compared to the 2014 elections which resulted in the defeat of Shiv Sena’s nominee despite the alliance with the BJP.

    “Where did the BJP’s votes go in 2019? Did you (BJP) have a hidden alliance with Congress at that time?” Thackeray asked.

    Thackeray also said that if the BJP claims to respect Bal Thackeray then why is that party opposing the proposal to name the upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport after the late Sena founder.

    “Why has the BJP gone back on its word and commitment given by (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah in Balasaheb’s room which I consider a temple,” Thackeray asked, in an apparent reference to his claim that BJP had promised the CM’s post to Sena in the 2019 polls.

    The issue of sharing the chief minister’s post after the state elections in 2019 led to the break up between the Sena and the BJP. The BJP and Shah had rejected Thackeray’s claims regarding the purported promise on the CM’s post.

    Thackeray, whose party heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government which includes NCP and Congress, also said that the MVA alliance experiment is successful. “This is the reason that Sena didn’t stake the claim for the Kolhapur North seat,” he said.

    Thackeray said MVA partners discussed in a recent meeting if they are falling short. “We realised that it is not the governance and administration we are lacking but we are falling short in spreading lies,” he said in a dig at BJP.

    Thackeray said that votes of Congress increased in the 2019 polls (in Kolhapur North) compared to the 2014 elections which resulted in the defeat of Shiv Sena’s nominee despite the alliance with the BJP at that time.

    “The BJP had severed ties with Sena in the 2014 elections. In that election, the Sena candidate won 69,736 votes in the Kolhapur North assembly segment while the BJP secured 40,104 votes. Congress polled 47,315 votes.” For 2019 polls, Shiv Sena and BJP joined hands once again but the Sena nominee bagged 75,854 votes, a meagre rise of 5,000-6,000 votes.

    The Congress candidate secured 91,000 votes. “I want to ask where did BJP’s 40,000 votes go? Who will clarify if these votes were transferred to Congress? Shiv Sena plays its politics openly and is not a backstabber,” the Sena chief said.

    In the 2019 assembly elections, Congress candidate Chandrakant Jadhav defeated then Shiv Sena MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar to win the Kolhapur North segment.

    Jadhav’s death necessitated the April 12 byelection. MVA candidate Jayashree Jadhav, wife of the late Jadhav, will face BJP’s Satyajit Kadam in the upcoming bypoll.

    The contest is seen as the first direct face-off between Congress and BJP after the Sena decided to not stake a claim for the Kolhapur North constituency.

  • Uddhav blames BJP for Sena candidate’s defeat in Kolhapur North in 2019 assembly polls

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday blamed the BJP for the defeat of the Shiv Sena nominee from the Kolhapur North seat in the 2019 assembly polls despite the alliance between the two parties at that time.

    Joining virtually the campaign for Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) candidate Jayashree Jadhav, who belongs to Congress, for the April 12 bypoll from the Kolhapur North seat, Thackeray wondered if BJP had a hidden alliance with Congress in this constituency in 2019 polls.

    Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena heads the MVA government which includes NCP and Congress.

    “Votes of Congress increased in 2019 polls ((in Kolhapur North) compared to 2014 elections which resulted in the defeat of Shiv Sena’s nominee despite the alliance with the BJP.

    Where did the BJP’s votes go in 2019? Did you have a hidden alliance with Congress at that time?” Thackeray asked.

    Thackeray said Shiv Sena will support Congress in the upcoming bypoll because his party honours the commitment and is not a “back-stabber”.

    Taking a swipe at BJP, Thackeray wondered if the Sena voting for a Congress candidate has been dubbed a sin then what to say about BJP’s alliance with PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “Does she say ‘Bharat mata ki jai’?” Thackeray asked.

    He said if the BJP claims to respect Bal Thackeray then why is that party opposing the proposal to name the upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport after the late Sena founder.

    “Why has the BJP gone back on its word and commitment given by (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah in Balasaheb’s room which I consider a temple,” Thackeray asked, in an apparent reference to his claim that BJP had promised the CM’s post to Sena in the 2019 polls.

    The issue of sharing the chief minister’s post after the state elections in 2019 led to the break up between the Sena and the BJP.

    The Sena went on to join hands with the NCP and the Congress to form the MVA government. The BJP and Shah had rejected Thackeray’s claims regarding the purported promise on the CM’s post.

    Slamming BJP, Thackeray said his party has always been committed to the “bhagva” (saffron) and Hindutva “unlike BJP which had different names like Bharatiya Jan Sangh and Jan Sangh”.

    “It was Balasaheb Thackeray who showed them (BJP) that saffron and Hindutva will lead them on the road to Delhi,” he said. Thackeray also said that the MVA alliance experiment is successful.

    “This is the reason that Sena didn’t stake the claim for the Kolhapur North seat”, he said. In the 2019 assembly elections, Congress candidate Chandrakant Jadhav defeated then Sena MLA Rajesh Kshirsagar to win the Kolhapur North segment. Jadhav’s death necessitated the April 12 byelection.

    MVA candidate Jayashree Jadhav, wife of the late Jadhav, will face BJP’s Satyajit Kadam in the bypoll.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray denies being miffed with NCP’s handling of home ministry

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Amid the crackdown by central probe agencies against Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders, the Shiv Sena is said to be miffed with ally NCP’s handling of the home ministry, especially the soft treatment of BJP leaders.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, however, denied that he was upset with Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, who belongs to the NCP.

    The CM’s Office released a statement quoting Thackeray as saying that he had full trust and faith in his cabinet colleagues and that Walse-Patil was doing a good job. The clarification came after the minister met the CM at his bungalow on Friday noon.

    Thackeray later met the home minister again along with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in an attempt to address the growing unrest among his party leaders, who feel that the home department should have been kept with the Sena.

    The Shiv Sena chief was said to be unhappy with Walse-Pail’s reply in the Assembly to former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ allegation that the MVA government was conspiring to frame up BJP leaders in false cases.

    The NCP minister had announced a probe by the CID into the matter. Raut, too, had made his displeasure with the home department public saying the action taken by Central agencies like the ED against Maharashtra leaders was an attack on the state home department.

    After the meeting, however, he said,  usually the CM holds the home portfolio butMVA was a three-party government and there were limitations. Hence, the Sena could not keep all important portfolios with it.

    Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Chandrakant Khaire had also demanded that the home department should be with the party. “During the recent Maharashtra assembly session, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis brought a pen drive and ‘exposed’ the government, but home minister Dilip Walse-Patil gave a meek response. There are many cases registered against BJP leaders, but the home department has developed cold feet,” said a senior Shiv Sena leader.

  • Maharashtra CM denies reports that he is upset with Walse-Patil

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday refuted reports which claimed that he was upset with state Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil.

    The statement came after Walse-Patil, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), met Thackeray at the chief minister’s official residence here earlier in the day.

    “I have full faith in my cabinet colleagues and they are working very well. Such reports are baseless and misleading,” the statement released by the Chief Minister’s Office quoted Thackeray as saying.

    Walse-Patil too denied that the chief minister was upset with him. He also told reporters that his meeting with Thackeray in the morning had been scheduled earlier for administrative work.

    “I am meeting the CM again in the evening,” he said There was speculation that Thackeray was not happy with Walse-Pail’s reply in the Assembly to former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ allegation that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in the state was conspiring to frame up BJP leaders in false cases.

    Walse-patil announced a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the matter. Thackeray had reportedly expressed displeasure over the issue in the last week’s cabinet meeting.