Thackeray attacks UP CM for disrespecting Shivaji Maharaj

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday flayed Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for not removing his shoes while paying respects to Shivaji Maharaj. He also criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not saying a word about Yogi’s alleged act. He also congratulated the people of UP for defeating BJP in bypolls in that state, while ruing the fact that the Palghar BJP candidate won despite Adityanath, who allegedly insulted Shivaji Maharaj, campaigning for him.

“The citizens of UP have taught Yogi Adityanath a big lesson. Earlier, he lost Phulpur and Gorakhpur byelections and now Kairana,” Thackeray said in a press conference. Yogi had come to Virar area of Palghar constituency for campaigning, as the pocket has a sizable North Indian population.  The Sena chief also recalled how Yogi wore shoes while offering flowers to Shivaji Maharaj’s statue. “Yogi wore chappals while worshipping our Shivaji Maharaj. He has no shame and his party was silent on the issue.”

Earlier, Sena mouthpiece Saamana said that it felt like taking the same chappals and hitting his face with it. “He is no yogi, he is a bhogi. Had he been a yogi, he would have given up everything and gone and sat in a cave. But he has gone and sat in the CM’s chair.” The editorial also took potshots at the BJP. “Today, the BJP has become a mad murderer that stabs anybody coming in its way,” it said.