Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), warned that those harassing his party would suffer the consequences when it returns to power. Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra and leader of a rival group, accused Thackeray of 'burying' the Hindutva philosophy. The two Shiv Senas held their separate Dussehra rallies in the city on Tuesday evening.
Speaking at Shivaji Park, the traditional venue of the party’s Dussehra rally, Thackeray also batted for coalition governments. Attempts were being made to steal the Shiv Sena, he said. After we come to power, we will hang upside down those who are harassing us, the former chief minister said.
Targeting the BJP, his friend-turned-foe, Thackeray said there should be a strong government, but not of “any one party with a brute majority.” Speaking at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, Shinde slammed Thackeray for forming alliance with Congress and the Samajwadi Party while “burying Hindutva thoughts of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
At one time Uddhav’s father Bal Thackeray gave the slogan Garvase kaho hum Hindu hai (say with pride we are Hindu), but now the new slogans being shouted at Shivaji Park are Garvase kaho hum Congressi hai, Garvase kaho hum Samajwadi hai, Shinde said.