Uddhav babu, who are you sitting with today?
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a rally in Dhule, Maharashtra, characterized the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance as a “fan club of Aurangzeb.” He asserted that Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), has strayed from the foundational principles established by his father, Bal Thackeray.
Shah further criticized Thackeray for aligning with parties that have opposed the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He stated, “The Aghadi seeks only to appease. In his quest for power, Uddhav ji has abandoned the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. Uddhav babu, consider your current allies. You are now associated with those who opposed the renaming of Aurangabad, the building of the Ram Temple, the abrogation of Article 370, and the surgical strikes against Pakistan. The people of Maharashtra face a clear choice: the Aghadi, which he labels as the Aurangzeb fan club, or the Mahayuti, which upholds the values of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar,” he was reported as saying by the news agency PTI.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi consists of the Congress, NCP(SCP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), and it is set to contest against the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. Shah emphasized that “Mahayuti signifies development, while Aghadi represents destruction. It is imperative to choose between those who foster development and those who bring about destruction.”
He also remarked on the prosperity and safety that the country has experienced under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, India ranked eleventh among world economies, but Modi has elevated the nation to the fifth position. By 2027, India is projected to become the third-largest economy globally. The Maha Vikas Aghadi is known for making false promises,” he stated.
Additionally, Shah advised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to recognize that even if his “fourth generation were to come,” Muslims would not receive a reservation quota intended for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
