Priyanka Chaturvedi's 'Dewaar Dialogue' To Poke Maharashtra CM Ignites Row; Shinde Hits Backs
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi (L) and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (R). (File Photo)
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday said that `my father is a traitor’ should be written on Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde’s forehead. Shrikant is the sitting MP and Shiv Sena candidate from Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency near Mumbai and is the son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
While addressing a campaign rally for Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Mumbai North East candidate Sanjay Dina Patil in Ghatkopar area, Chaturvedi gave a reference of the 1975 film ”Deewar”.
She said, “There was a Hindi film where `mera baap chor hai’ (my father is a thief) was written on the son’s hand. Similarly, `mera baap gaddar hai’ (my father is a traitor) should be written on Shrikant Shinde’s forehead.”
In June 2022, Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena toppling the Maharashtra government, led by party president Uddhav Thackeray, and became chief minister himself by allying with the BJP.
CM Eknath Shinde Reacts To Chaturvedi’s Statement
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reacted to the ‘Gaddar’ comment hurled against him by the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and said, “The words used for me are applied to them. In 2019, they abandoned the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray…They sold the ideology of their father. They committed a sin and the public will never forgive them…In 2019, they betrayed their friend and the people of Maharashtra.”
He further said, “When we contested elections together, Shiv Sena and the BJP had the same ideology. People believed that there would be an alliance government and that is why they voted. But out of greed for the CM post, they went ahead with Congress and Sharad Pawar. This is betrayal…I don’t use the kind of words they use. Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe didn’t teach me that.”
Reactions To ‘Gaddar’ Comment
Reacting to Chaturvedi’s statement, Sheetal Mhatre, spokesperson of the Shiv Sena led by CM Shinde, said, “She wanted to contest from Mumbai North West constituency, but because she could not get it, she is making such comments. Her Rajya Sabha term is also going to end soon, and she is lobbying hard for another term.”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also reacted to the remark and said, “The woman MP of Shiv Sena (UBT) has said that it should be written on the forehead of Maharashtra’s CM’s son that ‘mera baap gaddar hai’. I want to give her a reply that it’s Shiv Sena (UBT) which has betrayed, it’s Uddhav Thackeray who has betrayed. He has betrayed the BJP, the people and Balasaheb Thackeray.”
“If you want ‘mera baap gaddar hai’ too be written on the forehead of Shrikant, then on the forehead of Aaditya Thackeray ‘mera baap maha gaddar hai’ should be written as they have betrayed in real,” he added.
(with PTI inputs)
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