The clash between the two factions of the Shiv Sena in the bastion of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has triggered a war of words between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, with both hitting each other below their belts.
The war of words took place hours after workers of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena allegedly assaulted Rohini Shinde-Pawar, of the UBT at Kasarwadavali in Thane city.
Peeved by Rohini’s social media posts, the incident got triggered on Monday evening.
Meenakshi Shinde, of the Shinde faction, said their workers had gone to her place. But, denied any violence. However, Roshni said she was kicked in her abdominal region. “About 20-25 people beat me up,” she said.
Reacting to the incident, Thackeray, a former chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) head accompanied by his wife Rashmi and son and Yuva Sena President Aaditya Thackeray rushed to the private hospital to meet Roshni on Tuesday.
Thackeray also went to meet the Thane Police Commissioner Jai Jet Singh, however, the latter was not present in office.
Talking to reporters, Thackeray lashed out at Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister and described him as “fattus” (coward). He also wanted to know why the police is not taking action against the workers of “Minde”, a term that Thackeray uses often against Shinde, the Chief Minister, who had toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government nine months ago.
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Targetting the Shinde-Fadnavis government, he said, “They should have a ‘goonda’ department. They should have this ministry when the Cabinet expansion takes place. Fadnavis should resign as Home Minister.”
Fadnavis, however, chose to hit back. “We have been in the last two-and-a-half years (of MVA government)…he worked from home and was so scared that though two of his Cabinet ministers (Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik) were in jail…he could not muster courage to seek their resignation,” he said. Fadnavis said that he had handled the Home Department for several years including as Chief Minister and there is no question of resignation.
Fadnavis warned Thackeray to mind his language and said, “I am from Nagpur. I can use even worse words, and when I open my mouth, it will create problems, but I won’t do it.”
Warning Thackeray, state BJP President Chandrashekar Bawankule said, “You must be careful while commenting on Fadnavis. For the last two-and-a-half years, Maharashtra has seen your ‘fattus’ work.”
On Wednesday, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is planning a protest morcha in Thane.