Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske lashes out at Uddhav Thackeray over stance on Ram Temple, NEET paper leak cases
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was also not spared of criticism from Mhaske, who said that instead of worrying about the Shinde Sena, Kumar should reflect on his own political standing
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was also not spared of criticism from Mhaske, who said that instead of worrying about the Shinde Sena, Kumar should reflect on his own political standing.
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was also not spared of criticism from Mhaske, who said that instead of worrying about the Shinde Sena, Kumar should reflect on his own political standing.
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was also not spared of criticism from Mhaske, who said that instead of worrying about the Shinde Sena, Kumar should reflect on his own political standing.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske launched a sharp attack on Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that his party was questioning the Ram Temple solely because of its hatred towards Hinduism and its appeasement of the Muslim community for political power.
He also questioned why Thackeray's 'Ulema Bachav Toli (Ulema Protection Brigade)' had remained silent on corruption in the Waqf Board.
Mhaske made these remarks while addressing a press conference in Thane.
Mhaske said that despite the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance securing a clear majority in 2019, Uddhav Thackeray abandoned Hindutva and Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology in pursuit of power.
He alleged that those who indulged in appeasement of the Muslim community for votes had no moral authority to comment on Hindu deities or temples.
He further claimed that Uddhav Thackeray also never raised questions about alleged corruption committed in the name of the Waqf Board. According to Mhaske, Balasaheb Thackeray had advocated for the abolition of the Waqf Board, whereas the UBT Sena had opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
He alleged that the Waqf Board had encroached upon land belonging to Hindus, temples, farmers, the Defence Ministry, and the government, but pointed out that the Thackeray never questioned these actions. He asked where UBT's Hindutva was at that time.
Mhaske also alleged that Thackeray never supported the national interests in case of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
He further alleged that it was the UBT Sena's consistent anti-Hindu stand—in an effort to secure Muslim votes—that effectively made Uddhav Thackeray the leader of what he termed the Ulema Protection Brigade.
Mhaske said that the Ram Temple was constructed during the tenure of the BJP-led NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that it was this fact that had caused resentment within Uddhav Thackeray.
According to Mhaske, Thackeray has been raising questions about the Ram Temple Trust because of his animosity towards Hinduism, thereby criticising the Hindu faith and its deities.
He again asserted that the Ulema Protection Brigade members should first speak about alleged irregularities in the Waqf Board before commenting on the Ram Temple.
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, Mhaske said that merely having "Kanhaiya" in one's name does not make a person Lord Krishna, and alleged that Kumar possesses the mindset of Ravana and Kansa.
Referring to the Shinde Sena's political strength, he said the party has 13 MPs and 60 MLAs in Maharashtra.
"Instead of worrying about Shiv Sena, Kanhaiya Kumar should reflect on his own political standing and whether he is capable of winning an election," Mhaske said.
Mhaske also criticised the UBT Sena's decision to support the Cockroach party protests led by Abhijit Dipke over the alleged NEET examination leak.
He pointed out that during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, when Thackeray had been the CM, Maharashtra witnessed three major examination paper leak cases involving the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), the MHADA recruitment examination, and the Health Department recruitment examination—pointing out how these allegedly shaped Thackeray's resignation.