The seating arrangement at the INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi on Thursday has triggered a fresh political slugfest in Maharashtra, with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena saying Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has “choosen to stay silent” despite being humiliated by the Congress.
Visuals from Thursday’s dinner — hosted by Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi — showed Uddhav, his son Aaditya Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut seated in the last row. The Shinde Sena said it was proof the Congress was sidelining the Sena (UBT).
“The Congress has shown him his place. If they insulted him and he doesn’t feel anything about it, what am I supposed to say? Those who throw away self-respect, who abandon and sell Balasaheb Thackeray’s thoughts will not feel anything when insulted. You should ask him why he was seated at the very back. People say thoughts are placed in the front, and the spineless always sit at the back,” Shinde said.
The Shiv Sena also staged a protest at Balasaheb Thackeray’s memorial in Shivaji Park. Leaders shouted slogans “Balasaheb, forgive Uddhav” and “Clean the muddied brain,” accusing him of surrendering the Sena’s Hindutva ideology to the Congress.
Reacting to the criticism, Raut dismissed the matter, saying “the meeting was in an open space and a giant screen was put up. Uddhavji said he finds it difficult to see the screen from the front row, so he sat behind. Aaditya and I joined him,” Raut said.
