'General Dyer', 'Ravan': Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde exchange barbs at Dussehra rallies

The Shiv Sena vs Shiv Sena split came to the limelight once again during the Dussehra celebrations in Maharashtra. With months to go before the Lok Sabha elections, the two leaders were seen attacking each other with jibes such as "Ravan" and "General Dyer". The incident occurred while the rival factions’ leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde held their respective Dussehra events at Shivaji Park and Azad Maidan, respectively, in Mumbai on Tuesday. 

Addressing a Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, Uddhav Thackeray took a dig at Eknath Shinde for attempting to "steal" the Shiv Sena. "Like Jallianwala Bagh, there was lathicharge on Marathas in the Sarati villages. Eknath Shinde's government is General Dyer's government," Uddhav Thackeray said. 

Following his dig, Uddhav Thackeray accused Eknath Shinde for attempting to "steal" the Shiv Sena. Further issuing a warning, Uddav said, “We will definitely bring our government. But mind you, once we are in power, we will not leave the one who is working in pressure of this government. We will hang them upside down.”

Meanwhile, Shinde while addressing Dussehra rally at Mumbai's Azad Maidan compared his political rival to Ravan from Ramayan.  Launching an attack on Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister said, “Uddhav Thackeray wanted to become the Chief Minister, but did not want to show it. It was not allowed to be revealed till the end. Like Ravana disguised himself to kidnap Sita. Uddhav Thackeray had made a pact to become the Chief Minister. Two people were sent to Sharad Pawar to name him (for the post).”

Shinde even accused Uddhav Thackeray of burying the Hindutva ideology of Sena founder Bal Thackeray for power. "You have buried the Hindutva ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray by going with Congress and Samajwadis for power. Balasaheb had given 'Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai' slogan from 'Shivtirth' (Shivaji Park ground) but slogans like 'Garv se kaho hum Congressi and Samajwadi hai' are being given from that venue," Shinde said.

The war of words started after Shinde initiated a Shiv Sena split after he went incommunicado along with his loyalist MLAs and pulled down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Uddhav Thackeray in June last year. It was then Eknath Shinde formed the government in the state with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party.