Sunday, 17 November 2024
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Three days before the crucial Maharashtra polls, leaders across the political spectrum joined to pay tribute to Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray on Sunday. In a rare sight of unity, Uddhav Thackeray, and Maharashtra chief minister and founder of the breakaway Shinde Sena, Eknath Shinde, also observed Bal Thackeray’s death anniversary.
Bal Thackeray died of cardiac arrest on November 17, 2012, at the age of 86.
Throughout the Maharashtra poll campaign, Bal Thackeray’s legacy, along with Vinayak Savarkar, Pakistan, and Article 370, had been a common topic in public speeches of leaders.
On Friday, Union home minister Amit Shah had dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to laud Savarkar, Bal Thackeray.
“Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb,” Shah said, addressing a rally at Hingoli in Maharashtra.
On Thursday, Prime Minister had said, “Mumbai is a city of self-respect, but a party in the Maha Vikas Aghadi has handed over its ‘remote control’ to those who insulted Balasaheb Thackeray,” at a rally in Dadar’s Shivaji Park, an iconic venue closely associated with the rise and expansion of the undivided Shiv Sena.
“That is why I challenged them to get the Congress to praise Balasaheb Thackeray. Till date these people have not been able to get the Congress and the “Prince” (a reference to MP Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress to praise Balasaheb,” Modi noted.
But on Sunday, everybody - from PM Modi to Rahul Gandhi- paid tributes to Bal Thackeray’s legacy.
Narendra Modi
“I pay homage to the great Balasaheb Thackeray Ji on his Punya Tithi. He was a visionary who championed the cause of Maharashtra’s development and the empowerment of Marathi people. He was a firm believer in enhancing the pride of Indian culture and ethos. His bold voice and unwavering spirit continue to inspire generations,” Modi wrote on X
Milind Deora
"I welcome Congress finally acknowledging Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy after 12 years," the Shiv Sena leader wrote on X.
"In 2012, as a Union Minister from Mumbai, I had proposed that the UPA declare a day of national mourning for Balasaheb. While then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh seemed supportive, the idea was blocked by certain elements within the alliance," says Congress-turned-Shinde Sena leader Milind Deora.
Rahul Gandhi
On Thackeray’s 12th death anniversary, Rahul Gandhi wrote on X: “Remembering Balasaheb Thackeray ji on his 12th death anniversary. My thoughts are with Uddhav Thackeray ji, Aditya and the entire Shiv Sena family.”
Thackeray had repeatedly lambasted then Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Congress in the 1990s and the early 2000s.
In 2002, he criticised the Congress President Sonia Gandhi as she took exception to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam unveiling a portrait of Savarkar in front of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“Who is Sonia Gandhi to object to the portrait? What relation does she have with the country? How much does she know about the history and culture of India,” Thackeray was quoted in a report by the Rediff in 2002.
Eknath Shinde
“Respected #Hinduhrudayasamrat #Shivsenapramukh #Balasaheb_Thakrey salutes his holy memory on the memorial day!” Eknath Shinde wrote in Marathi on X.
Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray locked horns in a bitter battle over the legacy of the Shiv Sena after Uddhav did a political somersault and sided with the Congress and the NCP in 2019, a massive departure from the times of Bal Thackeray, who always chose the BJP alliance.
Shinde left the Shiv Sena along with many MLAs and joined the BJP. Both the factions filed a case at the Supreme Court and the Election Commission (EC). The EC ruled in Shinde’s favour and Uddhav’s faction had to rename and change the party symbol. The original symbol of ‘bow and arrow’ went to Shinde Sena. Uddhav’s faction became Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), with a torch symbol.
Devendra Fadnavis
“Remembering with utmost respect and admiration a great leader and founder of Shiv Sena, our source of inspiration, HinduHriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray on his SmrutiDin…” Fadnavis wrote on X.
He added in Marathi: “Our heart place, source of inspiration, the spark of Hinduism, Hindu heart emperor, respectable Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, salutes on the memorial day…”
Bal Keshav Thackeray was born on January 23, 1926 and began his career as a cartoonist at The Free Press Journal in Bombay. He started his own political weekly Marmik in 1960.
Following the success of Marmik, where he took digs against migrant populations coming from south India, Thackeray formed the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966. His political ire later shifted from Tamils, Malayalis to migrants from UP and Bihar.
In the wake of the Mumbai riots of 1992-1993, Thackeray’s Shiv Sena embraced a Hindutva stance. In 1991, the Election Commission banned Thackeray from voting and contesting in any election for six years as he sought votes in the name of religion.
Thackeray’s political life has oscillated from praising Adolf Hitler, to imposing a ban on Pakistan cricket team that had come to play in Mumbai, then welcoming Pakistan cricket star Javed Miandad at his house, taking an anti-Muslim stance, praising mafia don Arun Gawli, and criticising a Mumbaikar such as Sachin Tendulkar.
