The war of words between two former allies, Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), continues. Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said Tuesday that his party will come brandishing the sword of Hindutva when the country needs it.
Raut also said that his party was and always will be Hindutvawadi. “We don’t need to get our Hindutva certification from anywhere. We were, are and always will be Hindutvawadi. We don’t play Hindutva politics like they do. Whenever the country needs us, Shiv Sena will always show up wielding the sword of Hindutva, ”said the Shiv Sena leader, quoted by ANI.
This is not the first time that Raut has attacked the BJP in Hindutava. After the Maharashtra government announced the reopening of religious sites in the state from November 16, the BJP had called the move a Hindutva victory.
“This is not anyone’s victory or defeat,” Raut had said on Sunday. Shiv Sena’s leader criticized the party, reminding them that they were closed on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The closure was imposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he too made the decision to close the temples. So there is no reason for BJP to take credit for Hindutva’s victory in this matter. I think the Prime Minister will have to tell those people the meaning of victory and defeat, ”he added.
Raut had also lobbied for the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) announced by the Center to be firmly followed as places of worship were reopened. “SOPs drawn up by the government must be strictly followed. There is no need to take credit. It was God’s will that people stay home, and now it’s God’s will that places of worship reopen with caution, ”Raut said.
All religious sites in Maharashtra reopened for devotees starting Monday after being closed for several months due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
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