Shiv Sena to continue to follow Hindutva path: Uddhav

Aurangabad, Apr 2: Reaffirming party's pro-Hindutva slogan ''Garva Se Kaho Ham Hindu Hai'', Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray today said Hindutva would continue to be the saiding principle of the party in the future.

Addressing a large rally of party workers at the TV Centre locality here, Mr Uddhav touched upon various issues such as party's ideology, present political developments at the Centre as well as in the state, Democratic Front (DF) government's policy on wine shops, issues of the common man and strengthening of the Sena in the backdrop of recent political setbacks.

He clarified that continuing the policy of 'Hindutva' and the pro-Hindutva slogan was not against anyone. It was an old ideology of the party, which would be followed in the future, he said.

Coming down heavily on Revenue Minister Narayan Rane, Mr Uddhav said though he did not find it fit to answer the allegations Mr Rane had levelled against him and the party, he would like to advice Mr Rane that he should now bother about his new party, rather than thinking of the future of Shiv Sena.

Referring to the spate of suicides by the farmers in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of the state, the Sena leader alleged that the DF government did not have time to look into the issues behind the farmers' suicides and find solution to their problems.

Criticising the DF government for its recent decision on issuance of wine shops licence, Mr Uddhav warned the government that his party would come on the streets to stop any attempt of the government to set up wine shops at the every corner of the road.

Describing the state government as ''heartless'', he criticised the recent police firing on the demonstrators who were agitating for water in Vidarbha.

Mr Uddhav Jr termed Congress President Sonia Gandhi's resignation from the Lok Sabha a ''drama'' and criticised the Congressmen for projecting the same as a ''great sacrifice'' by taking out rallies in her support.

Referring to the recent agitations by the Muslims in the country during the visit of US President George W Bush for attacking Iraq and on the controversial Prophet Mohammad's cartoon issue in Denmark, Mr Uddhav said he was against any attempt to hurt sentiments, and added that he had expected similar kind of protests by them when sentiments of Hindus were being hurt.

The Sena leader pointed out that the people who take out protest rally against US President in the country, should keep in mind that more people had been killed in the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism than those killed during the US attack on Iraq.

Coming back on the issues of the common man, he directed the Mayor of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation that the civic body should withhold its proposed hike in the water tax and asked him to make sincere efforts to provide adequate water to the citizens.

The Sena is ruling the AMC for a decade and its Mayor, too, belongs to the Sena.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker and party's senior leader Manohar Joshi, Mr Chandrakant Khaire MP also spoke on the occasion.

UNI

Related Stories