‘Don’t You Dare Teach Us Hindutva’: Uddhav Thackeray’s Fiery Warning To BJP At Dussehra Rally
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray delivered a stinging rebuke to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at his annual Dussehra rally, warning the ruling party not to lecture his faction on Hindutva. Addressing a sea of supporters at Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park despite inclement weather, Thackeray said the turnout itself was proof of his party’s enduring popular support, directly challenging the legitimacy of rival factions and their claims to the original Shiv Sena legacy.
Without explicitly naming BJP leaders, Thackeray declared that those who “stole the party and symbol can never be the original Shiv Sena party chief.” He questioned the BJP’s frequent accusations that he had abandoned Hindutva by allegedly “joining hands with Muslims,” particularly in the aftermath of his alliance politics. Thackeray turned the tables, asking whether the BJP would now question RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who has recently held meetings with Muslim leaders to foster communal harmony.
“If BJP is trying to teach us Hindutva, then don’t dare. I am warning the BJP today – don’t you dare to talk against us on the issue of Hindutva,” he asserted.Thackeray reiterated his nationalist credentials and revisited his criticism of the BJP over the recent India-Pakistan cricket match controversy, describing attempts to equate sporting events with military operations—such as ‘Operation Sindoor’ against extremist forces—as “unfortunate.”
He accused the BJP of playing a political drama, referencing contradictions in the party’s leadership where, according to him, “the father talks against Pakistan and the son asks the team to play with Pakistan, which killed our people in Pahalgam.”The former Maharashtra chief minister’s address was marked by sharp rhetoric aimed at both his political adversaries and perceived betrayers within his own ranks, as he sought to underline Shiv Sena (UBT)’s commitment to its foundational ideology and its claim to the true spirit of Hindutva.
