Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray criticises BJP’s Hindutva agenda, questions PM Modi on safety of Hindus in Bangladesh and temple demolition. File
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday (December 13, 2024) said the Bharatiya Janata Party uses its Hindutva agenda only for “electoral purposes”. Addressing a press conference at his residence ‘Matoshree’, he questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country.
“The Prime Minister of India must inform the Parliament about the steps taken by his government to safeguard Hindus in Bangladesh. Temples are vandalised, and the Hindus who are minorities, have been subjected to violence in the last few months while India keeps former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina safe here. What about the safety of Hindus in our neighbouring country? Why is the ISKCON priest not protected? Mr. Modi claims to have intervened in the Russia-Ukraine war, he should also step up to stop atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh,” Mr. Thackeray added.
Mr. Thackeray also criticised a notice issued recently by the railways to demolish an 80-year-old temple outside the Dadar railway station, terming it an “encroachment”.
The notice, dated December 4 and addressed to the trustee and priest of the temple, reportedly said the temple was constructed without prior permission. It was affecting movement of vehicles and commuters, as well as ongoing infrastructure works at Dadar station, it said. The temple was built by the porters of the railway station who attach great importance to it.
While the railways had served a seven-days’ notice for removal of the temple, no action has been initiated.
“The Railways has issued a ‘fatwa’ to remove the 80-year-old Hanuman temple built by the porters of Dadar station. CIDCO [City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd] is eyeing the temple land. What kind of Hindutva is this? During election campaign, PM Modi propagated slogans of ek hai to safe hai (united we remain safe) but under the BJP’s regime, even temples are not safe. Why is the Centre and the State government not acting on this?” Mr. Thackeray asked.
His son and Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray too highlighted the issue on Friday (December 13, 2024). In a post on X, Mr. Aaditya Thackeray said, “Uddhav Thackeray ji today raised questions about the Union Government and Prime Minister’s silence on the attacks faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. Just like with Manipur violence, which is in our own country and is the responsibility of the Govt of India, the PM and Government seem to be ignoring the pleas of the Hindus in Bangladesh.”
“While the BJP’s social media ecosystem drives narratives with videos (some real and some not), and the BJP karyakartas (party workers) indulge in protests against Bangladesh, why doesn’t the Union Government speak firmly for Hindus in Bangladesh? What’s the point of Karyakartas and political parties protesting over a country they can’t even enter, while the BJP’s government that can apparently stop wars of 2 countries doesn’t even speak on Bangladesh? They were used by the BJP in its political narrative, but when it comes to helping them, the government doesn’t speak,” he added.
“Likewise, in Mumbai, an 80 year old Hanuman Temple has been given a demolition notice by the BJP government’s @RailMinIndia. It seems like we Hindus are used by the BJP only for elections. Neither are Hindus in Bangladesh safe, nor are temples safe in Maharashtra because the BJP’s government sends demolition notices!” the post said.
Reacting to Mr. Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule posted on X: “Those who abandoned Hindutva for power and sat alongside Congress are now talking about protecting Hindus. Uddhav Thackeray, the people witnessed how hollow your love for Hindutva was during your two-and-a-half-year tenure. Maharashtra saw your anti-Hindu stance during the Palghar incident, where saints were murdered. The BJP stands firmly with Hindus in Bangladesh. That is why the Central government passed the Citizenship Amendment Act [CAA]. At that time, however, you took a timid stance in the Rajya Sabha, fearing Congress.”
He further said, “For the BJP, Hindutva is not a political agenda but our faith, life, and soul. Those who abandoned the staunch Hindutva ideology of Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray for power have no credibility. When Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Priyank Kharge, insulted Veer Savarkar, or when the Congress removed Savarkar’s portrait from the Karnataka Assembly, you remained silent. This clearly exposes your so-called commitment to Hindutva. You neither have the right nor the stature to comment on our respected Prime Minister, the global leader, Shri @narendramodi Ji.”
Published – December 13, 2024 10:18 pm IST
