Shiv Sena, BJP spar over Hindutva, Babri demolition and renaming cities – India Today

The war of words between Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party escalated on Monday as the leaders of the two parties traded barbs over Hindutva, Babri Mosque demolition and renaming cities.

A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's comments on Hindutva, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Monday claimed that Sena's Hindutva did not translate into its policies and was thus losing ground in the state. Fadnavis also attacked Shiv Sena over delay in renaming Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad as Dharashiv. The BJP leader also claimed that Sena had little contribution in the Ram janmbhoomi movement.

In his reply, Sanjay Raut claimed that for claimed that for Shiv Sena Hindutva was a matter of faith not politics.

"Hindutva is not a political issue. It's a matter of faith and culture. If BJP feels that they are the proprietors of Hindutva then they are mistaken," Sanjay Raut said.

ALSO READ | Ram Kadam questions Sena's ideology after Uddhav Thackeray's 'wasted 25 years with BJP' remark

Earlier in the day, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had claimed that Shiv Sena was losing electroral ground after breaking ties with the BJP. He was referring to the recent local body polls where the Sena bagged fourth position.

To this, Raut said that Hindutva was a tool to gain political victories. "Fighting elections, winning or losing are not certifications of Hindutva. Savarkar was the biggest champion of Hindutva. But his Hindu Mahasabha never got success in electoral politics. Yet his thoughts on Hindutva continue to shine," Sanjay Raut said.

The latest battle between the former allies was sparked after Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that his party wasted 25 years as part of alliance with the BJP. "My only disappointment is that once upon a time, they were our friends. We nurtured them. As I said earlier, our 25 years in alliance with the BJP were wasted," Thackeray told his party workers on Sunday.

Stressing that Shiv Sena had not let go of its Hindutva stand, CM Thackeray said, "Shiv Sena pramukh had told us about Hindutva. We wanted power for Hindutva. What we are seeing now, the Hindutva that is practiced by these people (BJP), is only a pretence. Their Hindutva is for power. They are only wearing fake skin of Hindutva. People ask us whether we have left Hindutva. But we have left BJP and not Hindutva. BJP does not mean Hindutva".

Reacting to the speech, Fadnavis on Monday said that Shiv Sena's Hindutva is merely on paper and doesn't go beyond speeches. Fadnavis credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya and said that it was the BJP workers who died during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Fadnavis also claimed that Shiv Sena had failed to rename Aurangabad as Sambhajinagar, and Osmanabad as Dharashiv while BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government had renamed Allahabad as Pryagraj.

Dismissing Fadnvanis' claims, Sanjay Raut said that Shiv Sena's contribution in the Babri mosque incident was evident from the fact that Balasaheb Thackeray was summoned by teh CBI.

"If we had no contribution in Babri [mosque demolition], then why was Balasaheb summoned in CBI court? Our leaders were in jail. There were people from all parties; I won't say that it was just Shiv Sena... Weren't Shivsainiks karsevaks?" Raut questioned.

"If Shiv Sena was not there then why did riots take place in Mumbai? Shivsainks were martyred in those riots. We saved people for protecting Hindutva," Raut said.

On the issue of renaming cities, Sanjay Raut said that Devendra Fadnavis was also a chief minister then why did he not rename the cities during his tenure.

"Devendra forgot that he was also the CM. Why didn't he change the name of Aurangabad then? We will do it. We have already passed a resolution in the legislature. It requires permission from the Centre. Devendra should check where the file is stuck," he said.

ALSO READ: Why is Uddhav Thackeray targeting the BJP?

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Shiv Sena, BJP spar over Hindutva, Babri demolition and renaming cities - India Today