Stating that the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction’s brand of Hindutva was an inclusive one and not one that stirred religious discord between communities, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday claimed that Muslims and Christians were joining his party to fight the shadow of dictatorship that was allegedly hovering over the country.
The former CM, who was addressing rallies at Rajapur and Chiplun (in Ratnagiri district) on the second day of his tour of the Konkan region, attacked the rival Shiv Sena faction led by present CM Eknath Shinde and the ruling BJP, accusing them of unleashing probe agencies to harass leaders of the Sena (UBT).
Speaking in Rajapur, Mr. Thackeray said, “I see saffron caps here as well as people form the Muslim community. There is Chhatrapati Shivaji’s statue here as well as a dargah. When I was in Raigad recently, Muslims there presented me with a copy of the Quran in Marathi. They have understood the meaning of our Hindutva. I am saying again that our brand of Hindutva is not one that creates religious discord or sets fire to relations between two communities. It is an inclusive one.”
In a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s version of Hindutva, Mr. Thackeray said his party’s Hindutva stood for all those who were filling to fight and die for the country.
“While the Hindu community stands behind me, this time even Muslims and Christians are joining me. I am appealing to all people to leave religion and caste aside, and come together as patriots to fight this danger of dictatorship that is hovering over this country,” Mr. Thackeray, who was accompanied by his wife Rashmi, said.
He targeted the Shinde government in the State as well as the BJP-ruled Central government for harassing loyal Sena (UBT) leaders, MLAs Rajan Salvi and Ravindra Waikar.
This story was originally published in thehindu.com. Read the full story here.