Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Thursday attacked Shiv Sena-UBT president Uddhav Thackeray for opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill-2025 in the Lok Sabha, alleging that he had forsaken Hindutva and drifted away from the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray.
Reacting to Thackeray's claim that his party's opposition was against corruption and not the bill, Shinde said, "Wednesday was indeed a sad day for Shiv Sena-UBT."
He also asserted that Thackeray's vote against the bill was a bigger betrayal than his political concessions he made in 2019 for the purpose of power.
"The Shiv Sena-UBT leadership has come to the point where if you hold them, they bite; if you release them, they flee," Shinde joked.
Satirizing Thackeray's calling him ESS (Eknath Sambhaji Shinde), Shinde snapped back, "Should I term him UT (Uddhav Thackeray) – Use and Throw?"
Blaming Thackeray for betraying Hindu and Muslim societies, Shinde referred to the results of the 2024 Assembly election as proof of popular disenchantment.
"Balasaheb Thackeray was always with patriotic Muslims, and Shiv Sena and BJP still believe in that. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the same vision. We welcome Muslims who love the nation, but we are against any anti-national activities vehemently. That is exactly the view enshrined in the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. But it appears the Shiv Sena-UBT chief is confused about his stand," Shinde said.
Mounting his attack, he said, "When the leadership of a party is bewildered, it is bound to be history."
Welcoming the Lok Sabha passage of the bill, Shinde pointed out its importance, saying that during earlier Congress governments, Waqf land was denotified and transferred to chosen individuals. "That will not be possible anymore. Now, these lands will be utilized for public services like hospitals, schools, and infrastructure schemes," he declared.
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