Extends olive branch to Shiv Sena to battle MNS after allegedly making derogatory remarks against Bal Thackeray
Extends olive branch to Shiv Sena to battle MNS after allegedly making derogatory remarks against Bal Thackeray Tu Tu Main Main: Abu Azmi and Eknath Shinde had a war of words outside the Vidhan Sabha yesterday.
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi was forced to eat humble pie after he allegedly made condescending remarks against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
Azmi, who was slapped and assaulted by four MNS MLAs inside the Vidhan Bhavan on Monday, had allegedly said, "Thackeray has become old and speaks like a child," after the octogenarian blamed Azmi for the ruckus inside the House.
The Sena mouthpiece Saamna wrote in an editorial, "What can you do if a rowdy from Bhendi Bazaar (Azmi) insults Marathi in an act with political implications?"
Infuriated by Azmi's anti-Thackeray remark, agitated Sainiks led by MLA Eknath Shinde stopped Azmi from leaving the Vidhan Sabha premises and threatened him.
Foot in mouth
"We were told he made derogatory remarks against our Balasaheb. So, we confronted him and asked him what he had told the media," said Shinde.
Sensing trouble for having put his foot in the mouth, Azmi extended an olive branch to the Sena and asked them to join him in the battle against the MNS.
"I also told them to discuss the idea with Uddhav Thackeray. However, I did not make any derogatory remarks against Bal Thackeray," explained Azmi.
Shinde admitted that the SP leader sought their support against Raj Thackeray's party. "He told us 'nahin, nahin, maine kuch galat nahin bola.
Main unka (Bal Thackeray) aadar karta hoon, aur aap Uddhavji se poochho'."
The Sena MLA dismissed Azmi's request and told him he couldn't discuss political issues. He warned Azmi not to make offensive remarks against Thackeray senior.
MNSu00a0bats for Bal Thackeray
The MNS, which has been at loggerheads with the Sena over the Marathi manoos issue, condemned Abu Azmi's remarks against Bal Thackeray.
"MNS will not tolerate a single word against Balasaheb. We will force Azmi to leave Mumbai if he speaks anything against Thackeray," said Bala Nandgaokar, MNS group leader in the Assembly.
The tension between the Sena and the MNS escalated after the exceptional performance of Raj's party in the Assembly polls.
Did you know?
The MNS is willing to apologise for the violence inside the Vidhan Sabha
on Monday
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