Descendants of Razakars, how can they talk to us?: BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis slams AIMIM chief Owaisi
Mumbai: As Maharashtra’s Assembly elections draw near, a heated war of words broke out between Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Fadnavis hit out at Owaisi, saying 'they are descendants of 'Razakars'.
Speaking to media persons during his election rally in Nagpur on Monday, Fadnavis said, “They are descendants of 'Razakars'. The 'Razakars' tortured the people of Marathwada, looted their lands, tried to rape women, and destroyed families. How can they talk to us?”
His remarks come after Owaisi earlier claimed that while his ancestors did jihad against the British, Fadnavis' ancestors were busy writing love letters.
The term 'Razakar', meaning ‘volunteer’ or ‘helper’ in Persian and Urdu, is back in spotlight after the recent conflict in Bangladesh, where now-ousted Sheikh Hasina had referred to the protesting students as 'razakars' or those who had sided with Pakistan during Bangladesh's freedom struggle.
Polling for Maharashtra's 288 assembly seats is set for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23.
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Maharashtra poll results unexpected, incomprehensible; something fishy: Uddhav Thackeray
Mumbai, Nov 23: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday called the Maharashtra assembly poll results, which the BJP-led Mahayuti swept, completely unexpected and incomprehensible, and cast aspersions on its authenticity.
Addressing a news conference, Thackeray said he could not believe Maharashtra, which listened to him as ‘kutumb pramukh’ (head of family) during the coronavirus pandemic, would behave this way with him.
“I cannot believe Maharashtra will behave this way with me. There is certainly something fishy,” he said.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) suffered a crushing blow, with its candidates winning or leading in about 45 seats, a far cry from the boasts by many of its senior leaders that the combine would trounce the Mahayuti.
Thackeray said the results reflect that there was a tsunami rather than a wave and added that the “anger” against the government was very much visible over unemployment and agrarian distress.
The former chief minister wondered how the situation could change so drastically in four months after the Lok Sabha polls in which Maha Vikas Aghadi decimated the NDA, winning 30 of the state’s 48 seats.
“I promise to the people of Maharashtra that we will keep fighting for the rights of the state,” Thackeray asserted.
Of the 95 seats it contested, the Sena (UBT) won just 20 seats. By contrast, Uddhav’s archrival and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who split the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in 2022, powered his outfit to an emphatic show.
Shinde’s Sena was winning or leading in 57 seats, as per the latest figures shared by the Election Commission, in a major boost to his side as he has been repeatedly accused by Uddhav and his aides of “stealing” the original party.
Thackeray also took a dig at Shinde saying he would now have to under Devendra Fadnavis, amid speculation that the BJP leader would be made the CM.
In the Mahayuti of BJP, Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP could win over 230 of the 288 seats in the state. BJP and NCP look poised to bag 133 and 41 seats, respectively.
Of the other MVA partners, NCP (SP) won only 10 of the 86 seats it contested, while the Congress was winning or leading in only 16 constituencies though it had fielded 101 candidates.
