Mumbai. Stating that Shiv Sena is a “Hinduist party”, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday rejected AIMIM’s offer for an alliance. At the same time, it was termed as a conspiracy by the BJP to defame the party (Shiv Sena) leading the Mahavikas Aghadi government.
Thackeray, who is leading the Shiv Sena, addressed a meeting of party MPs and office bearers here digitally, in which he criticized former ally Bharatiya Janata Party over Hindutva and other issues.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, quoting Thackeray, told reporters, “Who has demanded an alliance with AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen)? This is a ‘game plan’ and conspiracy of BJP. There is a nexus between AIMIM and BJP.”
“BJP has asked AIMIM to defame Shiv Sena, question Shiv Sena’s Hindutva. Following this, the AIMIM leaders are offering an alliance.”
It is noteworthy that on Saturday, AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel had said that his party may forge an alliance with the Shiv Sena-led MVA to prevent the BJP from coming to power. To this, Shiv Sena reacted strongly. The other parties involved in the MVA are the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.
read also
Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, said that Shivsana will launch a public relations program Shiv Sampark Abhiyan on March 22 in 19 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of the state on the orders of Thackeray. He said the aim was to clear the confusion that the BJP was trying to create about the Shiv Sena on various issues.
Raut said, “Uddhavji has said that Shiv Sena will never join hands with AIMIM. The Shiv Sena chief has also said that his party was never and will never be associated with those who bow their heads at Aurangzeb’s grave.
Responding to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ jibe of ‘Janaab Sena’ on Shiv Sena, Thackeray said that Shiv Sena has always believed that Hindutva is above politics.
“Hindutva of Shiv Sena is not adulterated,” he said. Raut said in the meeting, Thackeray reminded that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that those opening a front against Muslims are not true Hindutvawadis and cannot be called Hindus. (agency)