Cong driving Sena away from Hindutva; MNS filling vacuum: BJP

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil on Wednesday asked Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to guard against Congress' "conspiracy" to "win away" Shiv Sena from its Hindutva nda and allow Raj Thackeray-led MNS to fill saffron vacuum in state.

In remarks viewed as an attempt to placate former ally of his party, Patil hailed Sena's role "in protecting Hindus during communal riots and Marathi maos in Mumbai" as a "well-wisher" of Thackeray-led party.

" Congress is taking Shiv Sena away from Hindutva and MNS is being allowed to fill Hindutva as part of a conspiracy. chief minister should understand this plan," Patil said.

Congress and NCP are constituents in Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

Patil, however, said BJP welcomes MNS taking up Hindutva nda.

"As a well-wisher of Shiv Sena and as a Mumbaikar, I feel that it was because of Sena that Marathi maos survived in Mumbai. It was because of Sena that Hindus survived, as shiv sainiks came out to protect people during numerous riots," BJP leader said.

Calling himself a "fan" of Sena, Patil said Congress was attempting to take Thackeray-led party away from Hindutva, and attempting to fit MNS in that .

Indirectly referring to new saffron flag of MNS which was unveiled last month, Patil said, "re are some invisible people working behind designing new flag and or things...CM Thackeray should understand this plan".

Patil also questionned Thackeray's statement in an interview that he had t abandoned Hindutva by joining hands with NCP and Congress to form a government.

"Uddhav Thackeray is trying to convince people by saying that Sena has t given up Hindutva. If you really have t given up Hindutva, n why are you t demanding Bharat Ratna for Veer Savarkar, and (t) supporting CAA?" he questionned.

Thackeray has in fact said that new citizenship law was t aimed at taking away anybody's citizenship. However, he has opposed proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Patil also questionned "Hindutvavadi" Sena's "silence" on V D Savarkar being dubbed "homosexual".

A controversial booklet on Savarkar and RSS, allegedly distributed in an All India Congress Seva Dal training camp run by Congress in Bhopal, had claimed that Savarkar had a physical relationship with Nathuram Godse, assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Patil expressed satisfaction over Supreme Court on Wednesday refusing to stay Bombay High Court order upholding a Maharashtra law granting reservation to Marathas in education and jobs.