Mumbai, Dec 26 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has recently taken aim at the BJP and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, labeling their interpretation of Hindutva and patriotism as mere hypocrisy.

In response to Fadnavis’ comments following the official announcement of an alliance between the Thackeray cousins, where he claimed that the BJP doesn't don the saffron shawl just for votes, the Thackeray faction referred to this as the height of double standards. They further asserted that the BJP's Hindutva is a facade.

In an editorial for the party's publication, 'Saamana', the Thackeray camp highlighted that during the riots that occurred after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, it was only the Shiv Sena that shielded Hindus in Mumbai and Maharashtra. They noted that many Shiv Sainiks sacrificed their lives, while the BJP remained unscathed during this crucial struggle for Hindutva.

The editorial critiqued Fadnavis's claim that the BJP's Hindutva extends beyond mere worship to encompass a way of life. It asserted that both Balasaheb Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have consistently maintained their stance against a Hindutva defined solely by rituals and bell-ringing.

It questioned the so-called 'New-Hindutvavadis' among BJP supporters, stating that they have sown national discord and taken lives over trivial matters like dietary choices.

“Post the Babri Masjid demolition, the BJP was engulfed by fear and panic. The then BJP Vice-President, Sundar Singh Bhandari, rushed to issue a statement disassociating the party from the incident, labeling it an unfortunate event and suggesting that the Shiv Sena was to blame. The BJP, at that time, was frightened and would have struggled to recover without the Shiv Sena's support,” the Thackeray camp asserted.

Increasing their attacks on the BJP, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena pointed out that in a Hindutva state, Hindus still face issues related to employment and food security, with 80 crore citizens relying on the government's free 10kg ration. This, they claimed, underscores the economic failures of the regime. “What good is such a Hindutva when individuals like Asaram, Ram Rahim, and Kuldeep Sengar are set free, while a true patriot like Sonam Wangchuk is imprisoned?” they queried.

The editorial also challenged the effectiveness of the BJP's version of Hindutva, stating it is predicated on fostering hatred towards Muslims and Christians to instill fear within the Hindu community.