
"No political impact": Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray reuniting after years
He said the government works based on trust and performance. And their government has the support of Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Speaking to the reporters, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said, 'When leaders come together like this, it has no political impact as such. Governments run on trust, on their work. Our Government has received the blessings of PM Modi. We have received the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah and CM Devendra Fadnavis. If someone appears and delivers speeches, I don't think it would have any impact...'
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that he must be receiving the blessings of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray after the estranged Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, shared the public stage for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The remarks of the Maharashtra Chief Minister came in response to Raj Thackeray's veiled attack on the former, where the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief stated, 'What Balasaheb could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did it'.
'I express my gratitude to Raj Thackeray that he gave me the credit for the coming together of both the brothers; I must be getting the blessings of Balasaheb Thackeray. I was told that there would be a victory rally, but there was also a speech of 'rudaali'. Not a single word was spoken about Marathi... The Mumbai Municipal Corporation was under their control for 25 years. Still, they did not do any work that could be shown,' the Chief Minister said.
'We changed the face of Mumbai under the leadership of PM Modi. They are jealous of the work we did for Mumbai, but the public knows everything, and everyone is on our side,' he added. (ANI)

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The Hindu
34 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Attacks on Hindi-speaking people: BJP leader draws Pahalgam parallel to target Thackeray cousins
Amid violence against Hindi-speaking people, Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday (July 6, 2025) drew parallels between the Pahalgam terror attack and the beating of "Hindus" in Mumbai in a veiled attack on the reunion of the Thackeray cousins. The senior BJP leader's remarks come amid an outrage caused by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists thrashing a sweet shop owner in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for not speaking Marathi. On Saturday, MNS workers damaged the glass door of Mumbai-based share market investor Sushil Kedia's office in Worli after he declared he would not speak Marathi and dared the party chief Raj Thackeray. The row over speaking Marathi is escalating into a major political flashpoint ahead of the civic polls. "In the Pahalgam terror attack, people were asked about their religion [by terrorists] before shooting them. Here, people are being attacked based on their language, which is disappointing. "The state is watching how these leaders are enjoying other Hindus being beaten up," Mr. Shelar told reporters when asked about attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers. With MNS resorting to street-fighting over Marathi, actor and singer Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, has dared the Thackeray cousins to drive him out of Maharashtra for speaking in Bhojpuri. "I am giving an open challenge. I do not speak Marathi. I speak Bhojpuri, and I am staying in Maharashtra. Why are you driving poor people out? If you have the courage then drive me out. I am giving you a challenge, even in Mumbai," he told reporters. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a stage after nearly 20 years for the cause of the Marathi language and vowed to oppose the 'imposition' of Hindi in Maharashtra after the state government rolled back the GRs on the introduction of Hindi as a third language in primary schools. Slamming the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the coming together of the Thackerays has unnerved ruling Mahayuti leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Targeting Fadnavis who had claimed that Uddhav Thackeray delivered a 'rudali' (professional mourner) like speech at the joint rally, Raut said, 'Fadnavis and [Deputy CM Eknath] Shinde should start a weeping programme now [with the two Thackeray brothers coming together]'. After the rally, Mr. Raut said, leaders from several south Indian states, particularly Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, have asserted that they can fight the Centre and 'overthrow the imposition of Hindi". As the row over true custodians of Marathi escalated, Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra minister Pratap Sarnaik on Sunday credited Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for giving justice to Marathi manoos and ensuring classical language status for the Marathi language by following up with the Centre. In a letter to Mr. Shinde, Mr. Sarnaik stated that people are wise to understand that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS have come together to win power in the Mumbai civic body and not in the interest of Marathi. He said the Sena (undivided) controlled the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for 25 years and during this period, the Marathi manoos was driven out of the hotel industry, real estate, and gold and silver jewellery shops. "People are wise enough to know that they (Sena UBT and MNS) have come to win power in the BMC. Their [the Sena UBT's] soul is stuck in the coffers of the BMC. UBT's politics has been very selfish, fake and treacherous. Which is why UBT's colleagues are abandoning the party," Mr. Sarnaik said. "The MNS and the Sena (UBT) keep saying that they have come together in the interest of Marathi. So, for whose interest did they separate years ago? There is no love for Marathi, its culture and language, and Marathi manoos," he added. Mr. Shelar, meanwhile, said the attacks on Hindi-speaking people allegedly by MNS workers were disappointing and asserted "Marathi is not a political issue for us." He said the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies would perform poorly in the upcoming civic elections. "Compared to the previous elections, they will win fewer seats. They are going to lose," he added.
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India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Thackeray Reunion Puts BJP, Shinde Camp On Edge; Congress Watches In Silence
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
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