Sena (UBT) calls Fadnavis 'tainted' again; says BJP not the party it was during Vajpayee's time

The Shiv Sena (UBT) lashed out at Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis again on Wednesday (July 12), calling him ‘tainted’ because he was ‘doing dirty’ by supporting the people who were causing “cultural impoverishment” of the state.

In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena (UBT) asked Fadnavis to explain whether Nationalist Congress Party leaders Ajit Pawar, Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel and Hasan Mushrif who have joined his government are tainted or clean.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the past has raided Pawar and Mushrif in alleged money laundering cases.

It also asked about the status of the cases against MLAs of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena who are being probed by the ED.

“Those who are unaware of Maharashtra’s culture and traditions are in power. Fadnavis is doing dirty advocating for those who are causing cultural impoverishment of the state. This is why he is tainted,” the editorial said.

Also read: Maharashtra: After NCP split, Thackeray waits to see ‘how BJP handles new riff-raff’

Further, it said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is no longer the party it was during the time of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and even its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not of real Sangh ideals.

Also, while addressing his party workers in Nagpur, the home turf of Fadnavis, Thackeray on Monday had called Fadnavis, his former ally, a taint on the city as he had aligned with a section of the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so.

Playing an old audio clip of Fadnavis stating that he would never join hands with the NCP, Thackeray said the BJP leader’s no means yes.

The remarks about Fadnavis being tainted evoked sharp reactions from BJP leaders. Fadnavis on Tuesday hit back at Thackeray and said the former CM needs some psychiatric treatment due to the ongoing political situation in the state.

CM Shinde said those who abandoned Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s ideals and tainted his name are calling Fadnavis tainted.