Uddhav Thackeray Takes Aim at BJP Over Ashok Chavans Rajya Sabha Nomination

Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray criticized the BJPs decision to nominate Ashok Chavan for Rajya Sabha, accusing him of disrespecting martyred soldiers and their families. Thackeray highlighted Chavans involvement in the Adarsh housing scam and questioned the BJPs choice to send him to the upper house of parliament.

In a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday brought up the controversial Adarsh housing scam to target former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. Thackeray warned that if the BJP sends Chavan to the Rajya Sabha, it would be tantamount to disrespecting the martyred soldiers of the country.

Chavan's Resignation and Speculation of Joining BJP

Chavan recently resigned from the Congress party and stepped down as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) amidst speculations that he might join the BJP. This move came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Chavan's home district of Nanded and spoke about the corruption allegations against him. They had accused Chavan of disrespecting the families of martyred soldiers.

Thackeray's Criticism of BJP's Actions

Addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, Thackeray expressed strong disapproval of the possibility of Chavan being sent to the Rajya Sabha. He reminded the audience that the Prime Minister and Fadnavis had previously labeled Chavan as a "dealer" and not a leader. Thackeray questioned the BJP's decision to consider Chavan for the Rajya Sabha nomination, given his alleged involvement in the Adarsh housing scam, which was deemed as disrespectful to the soldiers.

Call for Implementing M.S. Swaminathan's Recommendations

Shifting the focus to agriculture, Thackeray urged the government to implement the recommendations proposed by renowned agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, who was recently honored with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. Thackeray criticized the BJP for seemingly using the Bharat Ratna as a means to secure votes from various communities. He emphasized the importance of implementing Swaminathan's suggestions for the betterment of agriculture rather than merely bestowing honors.

Allegations of Diverting Investments and Scams

Thackeray further accused the BJP of diverting new investments to Gujarat, creating a divide between the state and the rest of the country. On a related note, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut launched an attack on state minister Abdul Sattar, who belongs to the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Raut accused Sattar of involvement in several scams and predicted his imprisonment within the next four months. He vowed that the guilty would not be spared once the Uddhav Thackeray-led government returns to power.

Water Scarcity Issue in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, highlighted the pressing issue of water scarcity in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city. He pointed out that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government under Uddhav Thackeray had allocated a substantial amount of funds, including Rs 1,680 crore, for a water pipeline project. Despite these efforts, only 23 kilometers of the pipeline have been laid so far, falling short of the expected progress. Danve criticized the current government for asking the financially weak local body to bear the burden of Rs 810 crore for the scheme.

Allegations Against AIMIM Leader

Former MP Chandrakant Khaire raised concerns about the motives behind AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel's agitation against a bank scam. Khaire alleged that Jaleel's actions were aimed at benefiting his friends rather than addressing the actual issue.