Maharashtra Polls: Priyanka invokes Bal Thackeray, Shivaji Maharaj’s ‘insult’ to attack Modi | India News – Times of India

PUNE: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday called out Bal Thackeray while campaigning for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, stating that the Shiv Sena founder would not have tolerated it Shivaji Maharaj‘s insult. Priyanka’s rare reference to Thackeray, whose aggressive Hindutva was rejected by previous generation Congress leaders, comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has challenged the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to ensure Rahul Gandhi speaks a few words of praise for Bal Thackeray and VD Savarkar.
Priyanka accused the BJP of stabbing Uddhav Thackeray in the back, an apparent reference to the toppling of the MVA government in 2022.
“Modi always takes the name of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Yes, our ideologies (Congress’s and Shiv Sena’s) were different… Yes, our political thinking was different… But neither Balasaheb Thackeray, nor any Congress leader and Rahul ji (Gandhi) would tolerate the insult of Shivaji Maharaj,” Priyanka said while addressing the polls in Shirdi and Kolhapur.
Maha Vikas Aghadiformed after the 2019 assembly elections, consists of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar).
During rallies for MVA candidates, AICC general secretary said Modi is publicly invoking Bal Thackeray but they (BJP) stabbed his son (Uddhav Thackeray) in the back.
She accused Mahayuti leaders of insulting Shivaji Maharaj and denouncing the collapse of his statue in Sindhudurg district in August, alleging corruption.
“The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj outside the Parliament was removed. The statue installed in Sindhudurg collapsed when corruption took place in its construction. What is the point of taking the name of the legendary king if you are that person want to offend?” she asked.
Priyanka alleged that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s country and its people were being insulted. “All these leaders including Modi ji are taking the name of Shivaji Maharaj but they are not respecting him,” she alleged.
Prime Minister laid a foundation for the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but later stopped the work. On the public stage, he takes the name Balasaheb Thackeray, but when it comes to completing the statue of Shivaji Maharaj, he does not, she alleged, apparently referring to the proposed memorial of the warrior king off the coast of Mumbai.
Priyanka alleged that Prime Minister Modi’s speeches reflect contradictions in his words and actions.
“When I listen to the speeches of leaders, especially the Prime Minister, they are disappointing because there is no truth in his speeches. It sounds like he says one thing and does something else. We expect that the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers will speak the truth and talk about positive things (based on their constitutional positions),” she added.