Shiv Sena (UBT) calls BJP silence on Annamalai a betrayal of Maharashtra

The Shiv Sena UBT on Tuesday slammed the BJP and Shiv Sena leadership in Maharashtra for not publicly condemning the ldquotreasonous statements of Annamalai and Kripashankar Singh who insulted the bravery and selfrespect of Maharashtra It warned that the Marathi people have taken a serious note of this perceived spinelessness and the governments refusal to protect the states dignity reported news agency IANSAnnamalai and Kripashankar Singhrsquos remarks trigger outrageThe Thackeray camp referred to BJP leader Annamalairsquos statement during a public rally that Mumbai does not belong to Maharashtra and questioned the citys connection to the state while former Minister Kripashankar Singh announced that a Hindispeaking person will become a Mumbai MayorThe Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena in a scathing editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana alleged that under the FadnavisShinde regime the dignity of Maharashtra has been ruined It highlighted a perceived cowardice within the ruling alliance specifically targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde saying that administration is subservient to the BJP central leadership as it has hoisted the white flag of surrender reported IANSMarathi language culture and pride under threat claims UBTThe corrupt politics of the FadnavisShinde duo continue by trampling over the Marathi language culture and pride It is a terrifying sight when any Tom Dick or Harry random person comes to Mumbai insults Maharashtra and the Marathi rulers support themThe editorial said that concerns are mounting over the systematic erosion of Marathi pride and identity under the FadnavisShinde administration and that the Mahayuti alliance governmentrsquos silence is a betrayal of the states legacySaamana accuses BJP allies of surrendering Marathi selfrespectldquoThe relationship between the BJP and Marathi pride never existed in the first place However those who considered themselves diamonds while in the Shiv Sena have now lost their luster by associating with bedbugs What else can one call the rulers and their supporters who do not even issue a simple protest against the antiMaharashtra statements made by Kripashankar and Annamalai if not impotent Just as one might wave a white flag of surrender and kneel these people have hoisted the flag of impotence and insulted the bravery and selfrespect of Maharashtrardquo said the editorial reported IANSIt has accused the Mahayuti alliance leadership of prioritising political alliances over the protection of Marathi culture and languageBJP accused of trying to create TamilndashMarathi frictionAccording to the editorial the BJPs strategy involves creating friction between the Tamil community and the Shiv Sena for political gain It notes that traditionally Tamil Nadu leadership whether from the DMK or AIADMK has always respected regional identities and even stood shouldertoshoulder with Maharashtra in past struggles such as the fight against the mandatory imposition of Hindi reported IANSEknath Shinde targeted over silence on AnnamalaiTargeting Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde the editorial said ldquoAmit Shah has created a cowardly army that refuses to fight people like Annamalai These people claim to be the heirs to the thoughts of Balasaheb Thackeray If they were truly his heirs while occupying chairs of power they wouldnt have let Annamalai leave Mumbai and allowed such insults to Maharashtra to pass unchallenged Instead by siding with the BJP and others they have completely stripped away their Marathi identityrdquoWith inputs from IANS