'He Himself Is Hamas': Sanjay Raut Attacks Eknath Shinde Over Remarks On Uddhav Thackeray

In his Dussehra speech, Shinde had said that he won't be surprised if Uddhav allies with Asaduddin Owaisi or even 'hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba' for selfish motives and chair.

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over his remarks that Uddhav Thackery will not hesitate to join hands with Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM or even with "Lashkar-e-Taiba or Hamas" if it suits his political ambitions. Responding to Shinde's remarks, Raut hit out at him saying, "I do not want to take the names of Hamas, Lashkar, or Hizbul as they don't matter in India and especially in Maharashtra but Eknath Shinde himself is Hamas.''

Speaking to news agency ANI, Raut said, "... He (Shinde) is himself Hamas... This shows how many dirty worms the BJP has planted in your mind..." 

#WATCH | Mumbai: On Eknath Shinde's statement, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, "... He (Eknath Shinde) is himself Hamas... This shows how many dirty worms the BJP has planted in your mind..." https://t.co/r3qaUo4Tni pic.twitter.com/BkYgFPOgjr — ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2023

Raut said this in response to Shinde's Dussehra speech in which he said he won't be surprised if Uddhav Thackeray allies with Asaduddin Owaisi or even 'hug terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba' for selfish motives and chair.

"Eknath Shinde should say these things in 2024 when he will not be in power. His mind is filled with Hamas. If you speak like this on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, it's clear what your thoughts are. Shiv Sena gave your birth in politics, brought you here where you could become the chief minister and today you are calling them Hamas? How much dirt has the BJP put inside your head? I can also say many things but I won't because I have Balasaheb's ideals to follow," Sanjay Raut said.

Claiming that they are the real followers of Balasaheb Saheb's ideology, Raut went on to say, ''Balasaheb always used to talk about strengthening the country, but Eknath Shinde's speech is all about making the BJP strong, making PM Modi strong. Such a rally is a place where you should show the path ahead to your party workers. But you have to say 'Modi ji ki jai' in a rally where BJP sends people." 

"Balasaheb always used to talk about strengthening the country, but Eknath Shinde's speech is all about making the BJP strong, making PM Modi strong. Such a rally is a place where you should show the path ahead to your party workers. But you have to say 'Modi ji ki jai' in a rally where BJP sends people," Sanjay Raut said.

Shinde Attacks Uddhav In Dussehra Speech

Launching a no-holds-barred attack on his predecessor and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray in his Dussehra address at Mumbai Azad Maidan Ground on Tuesday, Shinde said the former joined hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), forsaking the party's core Hindutva moorings, to fulfill his personal aspirations of becoming the CM.

Without naming Uddhav, who stepped down as CM after his Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was reduced to a minority and eventually fell in the wake of his rebellion and switchover to the saffron camp, Shinde claimed that the former could join hands with Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM or even with "Lashkar-e-Taiba or Hamas" if it suits his political ambitions.

"The people are aware of what is happening today. The lifelong ideals of our founder-leader Balasaheb Thackeray were compromised to satisfy someone's lust for power and ambition of becoming the chief minister. They joined hands with the Congress, the same Congress which Balasaheb always kept us away from. Today, these people are sharing the stage with them," Shinde said, railing against Uddhav.

"I won't be surprised if they (Sena UBT) merge with the Congress. Instead of being proud Hindus, they consigned the core beliefs that the (undivided) Shiv Sena was founded on to the waters to stand with the socialists, their ideological opposites. They could even join hands with Owaisi or with terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hamas if it suits their political ambitions. Our Shiv Sena can and will never compromise with our founding ideals for the sake of power," Shinde added.

Uddhav Counters Shinde's Allegations

Meanwhile, Uddhav, addressing a counter-rally on the occasion of Dussehra at Dadar's Shivaji Park, dared CM Shinde to hold elections in the state for a people's referendum on where the two Sena factions stand in terms of popularity and public support.

"Hold elections if you dare. The people of Maharashtra will tell you (Shinde) who is the real Shiv Sena. I challenge you to hold elections in Maharashtra," Uddhav said.