Amid the ongoing debate in Maharashtra over the prominence of the Marathi language, BJP leader and state minister Ashish Shelar on Sunday dismissed the joint rally by Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, calling their speeches irrelevant and an attempt to distract from core issues.

Speaking to reporters, Shelar accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former chief minister Uddhav of repeatedly shifting alliances for political gain. “He (Uddhav) first aligned with the BJP to gain power in the state and the BMC (cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). When he realised he could become chief minister, he joined hands with the (then undivided) NCP and Congress. Now, to retain power in the BMC, he is trying to woo the MNS,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Shelar also condemned incidents of attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers, saying, “Marathi is not a political issue for us."