Uddhav slams Fadnavis, says sat next to Mehbooba Mufti on purpose

PDP President and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and CPI General Secretary D Raja during a joint press conference after the Opposition meeting in Patna, on Friday. Photo/PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he did so purposely sat next to People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti at the Opposition meeting in Patna and waved photos of her with top BJP leaders.

Thackeray came under attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party for sitting next to the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

Addressing party workers, Thackeray claimed Mufti told him that the BJP's alliance with the PDP was on the condition that Article 370, which provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, won't be abolished.

Thackeray slammed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for dubbing Friday's Opposition meeting as an attempt by the parties "to save their political families and dynasties" and said the senior BJP leader should not stoop so low.

"I sat next to her purposely," Thackeray said.

Targeting BJP's rivals, Fadnavis said on Friday that the Opposition meeting was for "Modi Hatao" (remove Modi) but the leaders were working to protect their dynasties.

"Uddhav Thackeray used to criticise us (BJP) for going with Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir. Now he (Thackeray) is sitting next to Mehbooba Mufti and talking about forming an alliance," Fadnavis said.

This drew a counter from Thackeray.

Also read: BJP, Sena slam Uddhav over Opposition meet at Patna

"Those who align with you are clean. You (BJP) left Hindutva when you went with Mehbooba. We will tear the burqa of your fake Hindutva," he said.

Thackeray waved pictures of Mufti with BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that his party has not abandoned Hindutva.

Continuing his attack on Fadnavis, Thackeray said, "I am very sensitive about my family. Do not stoop so low. You also have a family and WhatsApp chats about your family are out. We have not started talking about it because if his (Fadnavis) family has to be talked about, then he has to do 'shavasana' (corpse pose in yoga)."

Thackeray was apparently referring to chats between Fadnavis's wife Amruta and suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani and his daughter Aniksha. The chats are part of the chargesheet against Jaisinghani, Aniksha and his cousin Nirmal in a case related to demanding bribes and trying to extort money from Amruta Fadnavis.

The chargesheet includes multiple screenshots of WhatsApp chats and messages exchanged between Amruta and the father-daughter duo.

Hitting back at Thackeray, Fadnavis said he, his family and the BJP are like an open book. He said the chats are in the chargesheet with a purpose.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also targeted Thackeray.

Shinde said the revolt by Shiv Sena MLAs against Thackeray stands vindicated after the Patna meet. The rebellion, spearheaded by Shinde, toppled the Thackeray-led three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP last year.

Accusing Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva, Shinde said he sat in the league of Congress, Rashtriya Janta Dal, PDP, and Janata Dal (United) that were bitterly criticised by Sena founder Bal Thackeray. The same people opposed the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple, abrogation of Article 370 and Hindutva, he said.

The Opposition parties coming together is a victory of PM Modi's leadership, Shinded added. (PTI)