'Take some gyan...': Owaisi chides Uddhav Thackeray on fiery 'What is Secular?' retort

Chiding newly sworn-in Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, on Friday, tweeted that question was t philosophical. He pointed out that Thackeray cut a sorry face by asking explanation for his own government's common minimum programme (CMP). Answering Thackeray's rhetorical question, Owaisi clarified that Secular meant - ' Hindu Rashtra and discrimination based on faiths'.

Owaisi explains secular to Thackeray

"What's meaning of Secular?" fires back Maha CM Uddhav asked on Cong-Sena-NCP's CMP

Uddhav asks 'What is secular?'

Earlier on Thursday, after chairing his maiden cabinet meeting after taking oath as Maharashtra's CM, Uddhav Thackeray was stumped when queried about 'secular' CMP.  When queried about preamble of CMP which highlights that alliance will uphold secularism, Thackeray shot back - "What is meaning of secular? You tell me. It is re in Constitution," referencing Constitution's preamble.

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Shiv Sena's ideological compromise

Incidentally, Shiv Sena from its inception till date has been a strong advocate of Hindutva - which politically sets it apart from 'secular' Congress. It has been very vocal on issues like Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Bharat Ratna for Savarkar and Maratha pride.   Shiv Sena chief, who is first member of Thackeray clan to hold a Chief ministerial position took oath at 6:40 PM at Shivaji Park after being unanimously selected as Maha Vikas Aghadi leader.

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Common Minimum Programme

Maha Vikas Aghadi released its 'secular' Common Minimum Programme which in its preamble declares that alliance will take a joint view on matters which have consequences on 'secular fabric of nation' indicating towards a toned-down right-wing Shiv Sena. While CMP found mention of Aarey forest conservation, Bharat Ratna for Savarkar or a caste-based reservation to mention a few issues, it included several subsections like - Farmers, Unemployment, Health, Industry, Social justice, Women, Education, Urban Development, Tourism. CMP mainly features an immediate farm loan waiver, 80% reservation for local youth and two Coordination committees.

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Maha Tussle

Maha Vikas Aghadi which staked a claim on Tuesday has been given a deadline till December 3 to prove ir numbers. All MLAs were sworn-in on Wednesday in a special session, including Devendra Fadnavis who stepped down as CM after Ajit Pawar rescinded his support to BJP-led government. BJP-Sena which fell out squabbling over a 50-50 power-sharing and shared CM post bagged 161 seats (BJP- 105, Shiv Sena-56), while Maha Aghadi won 98 seats (NCP -54, Congress).