Clarify on ‘talaaq’ write-up in BJP journal: Sena to Fadnavis

Stung by the article in a BJP journal daring Shiv Sena to exit the alliance in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party on Friday demanded a clarification from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis if it was his party’s official stand and said his government would be in trouble if the lead partner chooses a course of self-destruction.

Reacting sharply to state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Madhav Bhandari’s article in the party fortnightly ‘Manogat’, Sena leader Sanjay Raut reminded Fadnavis that his government would have to depend on a party like the NCP if it opted to break the alliance.

The article, ‘When are you taking talaaq Mr Raut’, had dared the Sena to take “divorce” while enumerating the sacrifices the BJP has made in past couple of decades-and-a-half to keep the tie-up intact.

The write-up in the BJP came in the backdrop of growing strains in the relations between the two parties with Sena mounting scathing attacks on the Centre through its mouthpiece “Saamana”, often in a mocking tone.

Bhandari’s article also drew an analogy from the Bollywood flick ‘Sholay’ in which a jailor character, played by Asrani, asks policemen to march in different directions, only to later on find that no one is standing behind him. “Probably Raut and his party president (Thackeray) are apprehensive that if they do walk out of the government no one from the Sena would be left standing behind them,” it stated. Taking serious objection to the article, especially about personal references against him, Raut said criticism should be made on policy decisions and not on a personal level.

“Fadnavis should immediately clarify if the views expressed by a certain BJP leader (Bhandari) is the official stand of the party. We believe that such comments cannot be made on a personal level. Criticism should be made against policy decisions and not on a personal level. Making below the belt remarks only shows their level of thinking,” Raut said.

The Shiv Sena on Friday said it appreciates the views of Subramanian Swamy and took a dig at BJP saying the party “cannot disown” his comments on the Chief Economic Advisor after having “used” him against the Gandhi family in the National Herald case. Sena’s support for Swamy comes amidst the exchange of words between him and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the former’s demand for sacking of Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian.