Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday defended Deputy CM Eknath Shinde over the latter’s ‘Jai Gujarat’ remarks at an event in Pune.
While speaking at the inauguration of Jairaj Sports and Convention Centre in Pune’s Kondhwa, Shinde thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and ended his speech by saying, “Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Gujarat."
“Just because Shinde said Jai Gujarat, it doesn’t mean that Shinde loves Gujarat more than Maharashtra,” Fadnavis told reporters. “Such a parochial thinking doesn’t behove Marathi manoos,” he added.
Fadnavis recalled that when a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled at Chikodi in Karnataka, former Union minister Sharad Pawar had said 'Jai Maharashtra, Jai Karnataka.' “Does this mean that Sharad Pawar loves Karnataka more and Maharashtra less,” Fadnavis asked.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal sought Shinde's resignation for exhibiting "political slavery" and betraying the state's pride.
"Maharashtra is the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who stood for self-respect and sovereignty. It is a matter of shame that a leader occupying the Deputy Chief Minister's chair would chant 'Jai Gujarat' instead of 'Jai Maharashtra'. This is nothing but political slavery," Sapkal said in a statement.
After breaking the original Shiv Sena and being rewarded with the party's name and symbol by the powers in Gujarat, Shinde has crossed all limits to please his political masters, Sapkal further claimed.
"His slogan of 'Jai Gujarat' is not just sycophancy, it is an insult to every proud Maharashtrian. Shinde's actions show how deeply entrenched Gujarat's influence has become in Maharashtra politics under the current regime," Sapkal added.
Has Shinde forgotten that he is Deputy CM of Maharashtra and not Gujarat, Sapkal said while alleging that industries and projects were being diverted to the neighbouring state by the current BJP-led regime.
"From Vedanta-Foxconn to several other major projects, Maharashtra has suffered massive losses in employment opportunities for its youth. Industries, corporate offices, and thousands of crores in investment are being shifted to Gujarat. This is happening under Shinde and Fadnavis' watch," the Congress leader claimed.
Citing rising unemployment, agrarian distress, and increasing crimes against women in the state, Sapkal said the government should be focusing on these pressing issues instead of indulging in "political flattery and regional appeasement".
Sharing a video of Eknath Shinde video, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “Shah Sena! Shah Sena!" He said in another post, “The true nature of Amit Shah’s duplicate Shiv Sena came to light today! In Pune, these gentlemen roared “Jai Gujarat" in front of Amit Shah! What should be done? Such a man should be punished… how can this person remain in the Maharashtra Cabinet?"
Additionally, NCP (Sharadchandra faction) leader Clyde Crasto targeted Shinde over his remarks, accusing him of using the phrase in “greed for power" and political ambition.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) hit back at the remarks made by the opposition parties, uploading an old video of Uddhav Thackeray using the ‘Jai Gujarat’ phrase during a speech in Ahmedabad on March 30, 2019. “Either they are fools, or opportunists!" the party said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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