Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, accusing him of ignoring the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Thackeray expressed outrage over recent incidents of atrocities targeting the Hindu community, including the burning of ISKCON temple, and questioned the government’s lack of response.
Condemning what he described as the BJP’s “election-driven Hindutva,” Thackeray said, “Hindu temples are being demolished in Bangladesh, and our so-called ‘Vishwaguru’ (global leader) is merely watching. Why is there no action or even a word of condemnation?”
Speaking to media persons, he said that a couple of months ago, when the Bangladesh cricket team had come to India, his son Aaditya Thackeray had demanded that we shouldn’t play with them, but the government kept mum and did nothing about it.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader criticised the Indian government for its silence on the arrest of the ISKCON chief priest and the destruction of an ISKCON temple in Bangladesh. He asked, “Why are we silent when our fellow Hindus are being persecuted? We must seek answers – what is the Prime Minister doing to protect Hindus in Bangladesh?”
Thackeray also took aim at PM Modi’s frequent international travels, saying that while the Prime Minister had time to engage in diplomatic matters abroad, he had failed to address crucial issues at home. “The BJP tried to appoint Modi as PM, but what has he done for the Hindus in Bangladesh or Manipur?,” Uddhav said.
Uddhav also called for an urgent discussion in Parliament, demanding the government address the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. “Instead of indulging in political squabbles, the government must respond to the suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh,” he added.
Shifting focus to domestic issues, Thackeray drew attention to the demolition threats faced by two Hindu temples in Mumbai. One is the 80-year-old Hanuman temple near Dadar station, built by coolies, which has been served a demolition notice by the railways. The other is a temple in Navi Mumbai, where CIDCO has also issued a demolition notice. Thackeray accused the government of eyeing the land on which these temples stand.
He questioned the BJP’s commitment to Hindutva. “For the BJP, Hindutva seems to be just a tool for winning elections. They want the Hindu vote, but after securing it, they forget about the community’s needs and concerns. Hindus are not just votes – they have emotions, and they deserve more than empty promises.”
Hitting back, state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Uddhav Thackeray, who abandoned Hindutva for power and sat on the lap of Congress, is today talking about protecting Hindus. Uddhav, the people saw how unwavering your love for Hindus was during your two and a half years in power. Maharashtra saw the massacre of sadhus in Palghar and your anti-Hindu stance. The BJP stands by the Hindus in Bangladesh. For that, the Central government passed the ‘Citizenship Amendment Bill’. At that time, you, fearing the Congress, took a cautious stance in the Rajya Sabha.
For BJP, Hindutva is not a political issue but our faith, life and breath. You did not even flinch when Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge criticised Swatantryaveer Savarkar and the Congress leader’s arrogance to remove Savarkar’s statue from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
