Fri Dec 13 16:48:50 UTC 2024: ## Shiv Sena Chief Accuses BJP of Exploiting Hindutva for Political Gain

**Mumbai, December 13, 2024** – Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday, accusing the party of using its Hindutva agenda solely for electoral purposes. Thackeray questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, citing the recent arrest of an ISKCON priest and increased instances of temple vandalism. He demanded that the Prime Minister inform Parliament about steps taken to protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.

Thackeray further criticized the BJP government’s order to demolish an 80-year-old Hanuman temple outside Dadar railway station, labeling it an act of hypocrisy given the BJP’s professed commitment to Hindutva. The railways cited the temple as an encroachment affecting infrastructure works. This demolition notice, he argued, contradicts the BJP’s election campaign slogans emphasizing the safety of the Hindu community.

Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav’s son and a Sena (UBT) MLA, echoed these concerns on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the perceived inaction of the central government regarding both the situation in Bangladesh and the demolition order. He questioned the BJP’s seemingly selective outrage, pointing to fervent social media campaigns regarding Bangladesh but a lack of concrete government action.

Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule responded by accusing Uddhav Thackeray of hypocrisy, citing the Shiv Sena’s past actions and alleging a lack of commitment to Hindutva during their time in power. Bawankule highlighted the BJP’s passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as evidence of their commitment to protecting Hindus.

The accusations and counter-accusations highlight the escalating political tensions between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra, with the issue of Hindutva at the center of the ongoing dispute.

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