Mumbai, Feb 21 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (SS-UBT) on Saturday lambasted the Union government, stating that as global inquiries into the Jeffrey Epstein scandal escalate, a stark difference has surfaced between the judicial accountability exhibited in the United Kingdom and the perceived political protection of officials in India.

While Britain asserts its title of “Great Britain” through tangible judicial actions, India's self-proclaimed title as “Vishwaguru” (World Teacher) faces scrutiny from those who notice an increasing disparity between democratic claims and ethical conduct.

The Thackeray faction, in a pointed editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana', highlighted that British authorities have taken a significant step to uphold the rule of law by arresting Prince Andrew, the brother of King Charles, in relation to the Epstein sexual exploitation case. This arrest stemmed from allegations made by a victim involving a 17-year-old girl.

Before this legal action, King Charles made decisive moves to revoke his brother's royal titles and military honors, thereby distancing the monarchy from the scandal. These actions reinforce the British democratic foundation, emphasizing that no one is above the law.

However, the Thackeray camp remarked, “While Britain takes action against its own royalty, the political climate in India remains tense.”

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi often speaks on democracy during his international visits, there exists a perceived lack of transparency concerning Indian figures, including politicians and industrialists, whose names have surfaced in Epstein-related documents. The editorial pointed out, “Despite the controversy surrounding Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the government has shown no intent to dismiss him from office, which has led to public speculation regarding the nature of the information contained in the Epstein files.”

The Thackeray faction criticized the Modi administration, stating, “Currently in India, a 'my way or the highway' governance style prevails. While Prime Minister Modi frequently addresses democracy on the world stage, he remains entirely silent on the darkness enveloping democracy, the constitution, and morality in his own nation.”

Furthermore, it noted a significant lack of transparency regarding Indian names appearing in Epstein-related documents.

The editorial concluded, “The Modi administration has made substantial efforts to eliminate 'signs of slavery' by replacing British-era structures, such as South Block and the old Parliament building. However, these actions are hypocritical, as the government is substituting physical buildings while seemingly allowing a 'culture of exploitation' to persist. There is an absence of parliamentary discourse regarding the involvement of Indian officials in the Epstein case. The current administration's rhetoric on Indian revolutionaries, none of whom were affiliated with the BJP, starkly contrasts their selective stance on 'slavery.'”