Devendra Fadnavis ‘taunts’ Shiv Sena on self-respect, Sharad Pawar tweets praise of Bal Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi and sons—newly elected MLA Aaditya and Tejas—visited the Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park on Sunday, along with party leaders including former chief minister Manohar Joshi, around noon. It was only after they left that former CM Devendra Fadnavis and BJP state unit chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha reached the venue, after 1pm. BJP leaders Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawde were already waiting for Fadnavis at the venue.

Earlier in the day, Fadnavis had reportedly taunted the Sena over ‘self-respect’. “Our heartfelt tributes to Hindu Hridaysamrat on his anniversary,” tweeted Fadnavis. He also posted a video of Bal Thackeray’s speeches along with a comment that he always upheld self-respect and advocated Hindutva and even today continues to inspire them. In response, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said nobody needs to teach them the values of Hindutva. “We will give a befitting reply on self-respect, Hindutva and nationalism at the right time. We will fulfil the promise of having the CM from Sena given to honourable Balasaheb by Uddhavji,” he told mediapersons.



NCP chief Sharad Pawar, whose friendship with Thackeray is an example in political circles, too paid rich tributes to the Sena founder. “It was Balasaheb Thackeray who had created a Marathi manoos filled with regional pride,” tweeted Pawar, who is leading the initiative to stitch an alliance with the Sena and Congress to form the government in the state.


NCP legislator Jitendra Awhad tweeted a photograph of Bal Thackeray with former PM Indira Gandhi. “I have been coming here every year to pay my respects to Balasaheb. This has got nothing to do with our alliance,” he said.



In a show of strength, Shiv Sena leader Ekanth Shinde reached Shivaji Park with his supporters in the evening.

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