Bawankule Criticizes Uddhav Thackeray for Betraying Balasaheb’s Legacy over Waqf Bill
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Synopsis
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra BJP president, accuses Uddhav Thackeray of betraying his father's ideals by opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill. He claims Thackeray's actions are driven by political motives ahead of the BMC elections.
Key Takeaways
- Bawankule's accusations against Thackeray highlight internal discontent within Shiv Sena.
- The Waqf Amendment Bill aims to bring transparency and women’s representation.
- Fadnavis defends the Bill as a correction of historical injustices.
- Shinde criticizes Thackeray for compromising on Hindutva.
- Political dynamics in Maharashtra are increasingly contentious.
Pune, April 5 (NationPress) The president of Maharashtra BJP and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule launched a pointed critique against Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), on Saturday. He accused Thackeray of undermining the principles and vision laid out by his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, by opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Bawankule argued that Thackeray's opposition is rooted in his desire for vote-bank politics ahead of the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
“The stance taken by Uddhav Thackeray on the Waqf Amendment Bill is not even endorsed by his own party members. I have received numerous messages statewide indicating that several Shiv Sainiks are disillusioned and contemplating leaving the party. His faction of Shiv Sena is unlikely to endure beyond another year,” Bawankule claimed.
He continued, “By opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, Uddhav Thackeray has committed a grave error.”
On the previous day, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the Bill, asserting that it embodies the secular and democratic principles stipulated in the Constitution.
“The previous Waqf Board was a result of appeasement politics. It neither aided the minority community nor served any charitable purpose. Conversely, it was exploited for land acquisition. The largest Waqf land scam in Maharashtra occurred during the Congress administration, and we had initiated an inquiry into it,” Fadnavis stated.
He emphasized that the revised law would introduce essential transparency and guarantee that the benefits reach the general Muslim populace.
“The Bill does not violate any religious beliefs. It merely rectifies past injustices. It also guarantees women's representation on the Waqf Board and abolishes the previous clause that restricted judicial oversight of its actions,” he explained.
Fadnavis further accused the Waqf Board of seizing lands that were subsequently handed over to Congress leaders, adding, “The Bill aims to put an end to this exploitation. Those who genuinely uphold Balasaheb Thackeray’s values should rally behind it.”
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leading a faction of Shiv Sena, accused Thackeray of neglecting Hindutva and compromising the principles of Balasaheb. “His rejection of the Bill reveals his true priorities -- placing power over the well-being of the people,” Shinde remarked.
