Eknath Shinde slams Uddhav Thackeray over Sonam Wangchuk protest support, Ram Raksha campaign

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister CM and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT faction for announcing its support to activist Sonam Wangchuks protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar accusing it of attempting to create instability in the country news agency IANS reportedAddressing a press conference Shinde spoke on a range of issues including Hindutva the Ram Temple Article 370 Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership opposition politics the NDA alliance paper leak cases and administrative action in MaharashtraMumbai Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde says The support extended by the UBT faction to Sonam Wangchuk is in my view nothing more than an attempt to gain political advantage I would say that they are always saying This happened in Bangladesh this happenedhellip pictwittercomJxB91UE5EImdash IANS ians_india July 14 2026Describing the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray factions approach as tails on fire but rushing to put out mountain blazes Shinde alleged that while the party lacks the courage to take to the streets it seeks political mileage with a You fight we will hold your coats attitudeCriticising the UBT faction for backing Wangchuks movement Shinde said its support had come too late He alleged that the party has a habit of extending support to every protest against the government without participating in the agitation itself choosing instead to remain at homeThe deputy chief minister also accused the Opposition of trying to create fear by comparing India with countries such as Sri Lanka Nepal and BangladeshHe said the economies of those countries had collapsed threatening the survival of their citizens whereas Indias situation was entirely differentThose who opposed Hanuman Chalisa now chant Ram Raksha Shinde targets UBTAccording to Shinde India is rapidly progressing towards becoming an economic superpower under Prime Minister Narendra Modi He said the Modi government has provided free foodgrains to 80 crore people and lifted 32 crore citizens out of povertyHe added that comparing India with Sri Lanka or Bangladesh amounted to political opportunismTargeting Thackeray Shinde said those who once opposed the Hanuman Chalisa are now reciting the Ram Raksha Defending Hindutva he alleged that Uddhav Thackeray abandoned the core principles of late Balasaheb Thackeray leading to the end of his brand of HindutvaHe also questioned the UBT factions alliance with political parties that describe Veer Savarkar as a helper of the British alleging that it was done solely to remain in powerShinde further remarked that those who jailed people for chanting the Hanuman Chalisa are now reciting the Ram RakshaThey have finally realised that those who do not stand with Ram are of no use but the public sees through this he saidShinde says NDA is bound by ideology not powerThe deputy chief minister credited Prime Minister Modi with fulfilling Balasaheb Thackerays aspirations by constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and KashmirOn the NDA alliance Shinde said it was formed on the basis of ideology rather than the pursuit of power or ministerial positionsOur alliance is not born out of a hunger for power or ministerial berths but is a purely ideological alliance We have come together on a shared vision to strengthen the nation We have never bargained nor will we ever do so he stated dismissing speculation about internal differencesResponding to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhis criticism over paper leak cases Shinde referred to the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA governments tenure alleging that the Teacher Eligibility Test TET Common Entrance Test CET and Health Department recruitment examinations had witnessed leaks on three separate occasionsHe said Maharashtra Police had foiled a conspiracy to leak TET examination papers and arrested those involvedHe added that those responsible for jeopardising the future of young people should face stringent laws under which bail is not easily grantedShinde orders crackdown on illegal banners says no accused will be sparedShinde said a Special Investigation Team SIT was conducting a thorough probe and assured that no accused would be sparedOn local governance he said he had personally directed the Thane Municipal Commissioner to remove all illegal banners immediatelyHe instructed officials not to spare anyone refrain from shielding violators and ensure strict action in accordance with the lawConcluding his remarks Shinde alleged that the Opposition had run out of genuine public issues and was now attempting to instigate protests provoke citizens and project itself as the protector of HindutvaHe claimed that the politically aware people of Maharashtra would reject such attemptsWith IANS inputs