MUMBAI: Hitting back at the BJP on the issue of Hindutva, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray told the conclave of a media house on Thursday, that the party’s “Hindutva is very clear,” and that it doesn’t “welcome rapists. Be it Bilkis Bano’s or anyone else”.
Aaditya was referring to the release of Bano’s rapists from jail following the Gujarat government’s remission policy. He added, “We also don’t burn people because of what they eat.”
He also said the Centre did not bring in an ordinance on the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, and finally the issue was settled by the Supreme Court.
“The BJP broke its alliance with us. It broke our party. We were Hindus then and now,” he said.
Responding to criticism about his father being an absentee chief minister, Thackeray joked that two of his flights had been delayed because Shinde was asleep. “Two of my flights were delayed because he sleeps till late,” said Thackeray.
He also claimed that when they had received information about a possible rebellion in the party, Uddhav Thackeray had questioned Shinde and he had broken down. “He had cried and said that his son was facing arrest,” said Thackeray, adding that “the people are with us. They have seen the mismanagement of this government,” he said.
Criticising the arrest of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, he said, “Anyone who opposes them is arrested.” — Priyanka Kakodkar
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