Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that some people are wearing `blindfolds`, and it is essential to explain to them what true Hindutva and patriotism mean, reported the PTI.
Uddhav was speaking to a gathering of party workers outside his residence, Matoshri in Bandra area of Mumbai.
Uddhav Thackeray took a dig at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who leads the rival Shiv Sena faction.
He criticised a banner at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) showing Eknath Shinde welcoming British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing ministers of being obsessed with publicity.
“Did you (Shinde) manage to get even closer to him (Starmer)? They’ve gone mad over self-publicity,” he said, according to the PTI.
In a veiled attack on the BJP, Uddhav Thackeray said, “It is necessary to explain true patriotism and Hindutva. Some people are wearing blindfolds.”
He also raised the plight of flood‑hit farmers, saying they are in despair and that the government has offered a package full of “deceit.” He was referring to the recent financial aid announced for farmers who lost crops due to heavy rains and flooding.
Uddhav Thackeray also announced that he will take part in a protest in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Saturday, opposing what he called an inadequate compensation package for the farmers, as per the PTI.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Thursday criticised the state government’s relief package for farmers affected by recent heavy rainfall and flooding, describing it as a “cruel joke” and demanding urgent intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported the PTI.
Unseasonal and excessive rainfall in September devastated crops across the state, particularly in Marathwada and neighbouring regions, affecting nearly 68.69 lakh hectares of agricultural land.
On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government announced a Rs 31,628 crore compensation package. It includes relief for crop loss, life and property damage, soil erosion, hospitalisation, ex-gratia payments, and destruction of homes, shops, and cattle sheds.
However, Sapkal, addressing the media after a North Maharashtra Congress meeting, said, “Since May, farmers have been suffering due to erratic rains. What the state government has offered is a deceptive eyewash, not genuine support.”
He criticised the Prime Minister for failing to announce any central aid during his recent Mumbai visit. “He’s extended special packages to Bihar, Gujarat, and Punjab, yet Maharashtra has been neglected in its time of crisis,” Sapkal said, according to the PTI.
He further alleged that the state’s compensation figures include insurance settlements and lightning-related fatalities, calling it a “bogus accounting exercise” designed to inflate the relief figure without offering new assistance.
The Congress has demanded Rs 50,000 per hectare for crop damage, Rs 5 lakh per hectare for soil erosion, and a complete farm loan waiver.
(with PTI inputs)
