Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray Attacks BJP Over Ashok Chavan Induction
Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), launched a scathing attack on the BJP on Wednesday, accusing the ruling party of becoming complicit in the multi-crore Adarsh Housing Society scam by inducting former Congress leader Ashok Chavan.
Thackeray, addressing a press conference in Nanded, Maharashtra, pointed out that the BJP used to target Chavan, alleging that he had misled the families of martyrs in the Adarsh scam. However, now that Chavan has joined the BJP, the party itself stands accused of fooling the martyrs' families, Thackeray claimed.
A Brief Background
The Adarsh Housing Society scam involved the construction of a 31-storey luxury apartment building in south Mumbai on land allegedly owned by the Defence Ministry. The building was constructed without obtaining the necessary permissions and clearances. Ashok Chavan, who was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra at the time, is one of the accused in the scam.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought to remove Chavan's name from the case in 2014, but this was rejected by both the special CBI court and the Bombay High Court in 2015. The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court, which stayed proceedings in the case in 2018.
Chavan joined the BJP in February 2023 and was subsequently elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. At the time of joining the BJP, Chavan dismissed the Adarsh case as a "political mishap" and claimed that he considered it a "non-issue" now.
Thackeray's Criticism of BJP's Move
Thackeray criticized the BJP's decision to induct Chavan into the party, stating that the move makes the BJP complicit in the Adarsh scam. He pointed out that the BJP leaders used to accuse Chavan of fooling the families of martyrs, but now they are praising him after he joined the party.
Thackeray also alleged that the BJP is providing excessive security to individuals who have betrayed the people, while ordinary citizens remain unsafe. He questioned the source of funding for this security, stating that the government is collecting taxes from people who are not safe and using those funds to protect "traitors."
Conclusion
Uddhav Thackeray's attack on the BJP over the Ashok Chavan induction highlights the ongoing political battle in Maharashtra. The Adarsh Housing Society scam remains a contentious issue, and Thackeray's accusations are likely to further fuel the debate.