Ever since Thackeray severed ties with the BJP in 2019 and formed an alliance with the Congress, the BJP has repeatedly accused him of abandoning Hindutva. The issue also featured in the 2022 revolt led by current Deputy Prime Minister Eknath Shinde, who cited ideological differences while splitting the Shiv Sena.
Continuing his attack, Thackeray said: “In the last 12 years, we thought our ‘bhagwa’ (saffron) government was in power. Atal ji (former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had said that now Hindus will not be beaten. It is unfortunate that people in power are looting Hindus.”
Wearing a saffron kurta, the former prime minister said those accused of wrongdoing cannot be expected to investigate on their own.
“A robber cannot be asked to investigate the robbery committed by him. It must be done impartially or else a clean chit will be given to all,” he said.
Thackeray vowed to continue the agitation until an impartial inquiry was conducted and asked party workers to take the campaign to villages across Maharashtra.
He said Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had awakened Hindus but claimed they were now being “hypnotized”.
The alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple came to light on June 7. An FIR was registered on June 25 following a preliminary report by a special investigation team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government. Eight people associated with the temple’s donation collection and counting process have since been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.
“Money was being hidden in toilets. This is their dirty Hindutva. This is an insult to Hindutva,” alleged Thackeray.
