Uddhav skips event to unveil father’s portrait – Hindustan Times

Mumbai: A portrait of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was unveiled in the central hall of the state legislature on Monday, January 23, the birth anniversary of the leader. Despite a formal invitation by Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his family skipped the function.

The event was attended by MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Union minister Narayan Rane, chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. A political controversy ensued when Rane and chief minister Shinde took pot shots at Uddhav Thackeray, leading to deputy chairperson of the legislative council Neelam Gorhe and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal walking out. The Shiv Sena (UBT) issued a statement, saying that Gorhe, a party member, objected to Rane’s remarks and asked the Speaker to stop his speech.

A film made on Thackeray was screened at the function. It did not have any mention of Uddhav Thackeray.

Rane, a Sena veteran who rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and quit the party in 2005, narrated how Bal Thackeray used to care for his people. “The current leaders need to introspect why Sena leaders were crazy about Balasaheb,” he remarked. “If he was alive, the future of Maharashtra would have been different. What has happened now would never have happened,” said Rane, referring to the split in the Shiv Sena.

Raj Thackeray shared several instances of Thackeray’s life and also revealed that the Sena founder had turned down a proposal to pull down the Congress-NCP government that came to power in 1999 by accepting a BJP-supported offer that Jalgaon legislator Suresh Jain be made chief minister. “I will never let a non-Maharashtrian be chief minister of Maharashtra,” Raj quoted his uncle as saying.

Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Ajit Pawar took the opportunity to point out that Thackeray was not a Muslim-hater. “He even had an alliance with the Muslim League in the BMC once,” he said. “One cannot call him anti-Muslim though he used to often say he was against pro-Pakistan Muslims.”

Shinde remembered Thackeray as a leader who would stand by his followers. He recalled that when his mentor and Thane Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe was charged with the draconian TADA act in a political murder case, Thackeray told the then chief minister Sharad Pawar to help.

While Uddhav Thackeray and his family did not turn up, Smita Thackeray, estranged wife of Thackeray’s son Jayadev, attended along with her son Aishwarya. The children of Thackeray’s eldest son Bindumadhav and two trusted aides of Thackeray Sr, Chamapsing Thapa and Moreshwar Raje, were also present. The Shiv Sena (UBT) was represented by Gorhe and leader of the Opposition in the council, Ambadas Danve.