Aaditya Thackeray claimed that Eknath Shinde, the rebel group’s leader, was offered the position of Chief Minister in May but “he did drama.”
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray blasted party rebel MLAs who are staying at a Guwahati hotel, blaming them of “betraying” the party and asserting that “dirt has come out of Shiv Sena.”
When Assam was suffering with floods in some parts of the state, Mr. Thackeray claimed the party rebels were “enjoying” themselves in Guwahati while speaking to Shivsainiks in Mumbai notwithstanding the political unrest the MVA government in Maharashtra was undergoing.
Aaditya Thackeray claimed that Eknath Shinde, the rebel group’s leader, was offered the position of chief minister in May but “he did drama.”
“Many people told us that Congress & NCP will betray us but our people betrayed us. Many MLAs who were watchmen, rickshaw drivers, and paan shopkeepers – we made them Ministers. On 20th May, Uddhav Thackeray offered him (Eknath Shinde) the CM post and he did drama,” Aaditya Thackeray added.
Through his words he expressed the dissident anger the party workers had against Shinde’s current actions.
“I can understand your zeal and strength, can even notice your anger. I’ve been visiting and interacting with Shivsainiks and I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena,” he said.
He said that the receipts of bills consumed by the MLAs were close to Rs 9 lakh per day and accused them of using private helicopters for travel.
“They (rebel MLAs) went to Guwahati where there’s a flood situation & many people are without shelter & food. They (rebel MLAs) are enjoying there. Bill for meals (for them) in one day is ₹ 9 Lakhs, they are taking private choppers and enjoying there. Shame on them,” he added.
Aaditya Thackeray pointed out earlier this year’s Income Tax searches on party corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who is married to rebel MLA Yamini Jadhav; he claimed they had protested the action of the Income Tax Department, but her comments had made him cry.
“When there was a raid on Yamini Jadhav (rebel MLA) & Yashwant, we came out on streets. Y’day Yamini Jadhav said it was not needed. Many people had suggested to not give them chance but we gave them opportunity. What she said yesterday brought tears to my eyes,” he said.
The Supreme Court, which on Monday granted Mr. Shinde as well as other MLAs interim relief, ordered them to react to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly by July 12 at 5.30 p.m.
The Deputy Speaker had earlier given them till Monday at 5.30 p.m. to submit a reply.
The Supreme Court was considering on the Shinde group’s petitions challenging the Deputy Speaker’s warnings of 16 rebel MLAs’ disqualification as well as the selection of Ajay Choudhary to lead the Shiv Sena Legislative Party.
The bench even sent notices to the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, Sunil Prabhu, the Deputy Speaker, and the Secretary of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly. Asking them to submit a reply within 5 days.
In reply to 39 MLAs’ request for security due to the alleged threats against them, the Supreme Court observed the statement of Rahul Chitnis, the Maharashtra government’s standing counsel, that provision have already been taken, and the state government will go much further to ensure that the MLAs’ lives, freedoms, and property are not jeopardized.
Senior attorney Neeraj Kishan Kaul testified before the Supreme Court at the hearing on behalf of Eknath Shinde and others that the Deputy Speaker cannot begin the disqualifying process while the motion calling for his removal is still under review.
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