Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday defended Deputy CM Eknath Shinde over the latter’s ‘Jai Gujarat’ remarks at an event in Pune. "Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Gujarat,” Shinde said at the event, where Union minister Amit Shah was present. Shah addressed the gathering in Gujarati language. "Just because Shinde uttered Jai Gujarat, doesn't mean Shinde loves Gujarat more than Maharashtra," Fadnavis told journalists. "Such a parochial mindset doesn't befit Marathi manoos," he continued.
Fadnavis remembered that when a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated at Chikodi in Karnataka, former Union minister Sharad Pawar had uttered 'Jai Maharashtra, Jai Karnataka.' "Does this imply that Sharad Pawar loves Karnataka more and Maharashtra less," Fadnavis questioned.
At the same time, Maharashtra Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal demanded Shinde's resignation for showing "political slavery" and destroying the pride of the state. "It is the state of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who represented self-respect and sovereignty. It is shameful that a person holding the position of Deputy Chief Minister would be chanting 'Jai Gujarat' rather than 'Jai Maharashtra'. That is only political slavery," Sapkal said in a release.
After splitting the original Shiv Sena and being blessed with the party name and symbol by Gujarat's powers, Shinde has gone beyond all limits to appease his political masters, Sapkal alleged.
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His "Jai Gujarat" slogan is not only sycophancy, it is a blow to every Maharashtrian's pride. Shinde's move indicates how much rooted Gujarat's power has been in Maharashtra politics during the present regime, Sapkal added.
Has Shinde forgotten that he is the Deputy CM of Maharashtra and not of Gujarat, Sapkal retorted while accusing the present BJP government of diverting industries and projects to the neighbouring state. "Right from Vedanta-Foxconn to a number of other big-ticket projects, Maharashtra has lost big time in terms of job opportunities for its youth. Industries, corporate offices, and thousands of crores of investment are being relocated to Gujarat. This is all happening under the watch of Shinde and Fadnavis," the Congress leader asserted.
Referring to growing unemployment, agrarian crisis, and rising crimes against women in the state, Sapkal asserted that the government should be acting on such urgent matters rather than resorting to "political flattery and regional appeasement. Yes, there is no room for such people in the state's leadership. Eknath Shinde should resign forthwith."
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