Dip in Ganga won’t erase betrayal of Maharashtra: Uddhav targets Shinde
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray launched a sharp attack on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during the Marathi Language Day event at Birla Matoshree Auditorium on Thursday. Referring to Shinde’s recent religious activities, Thackeray remarked, “Taking a dip in Ganga will not wash away sins. The stain of betraying Maharashtra will remain.”
Addressing allegations that he had abandoned Hindutva, Thackeray began his speech with the phrase, “Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai” and emphasised that while Shiv Sena was founded for the welfare of Marathi people, pride in the Marathi language should not come at the cost of disrespecting others.
Acknowledging contributions of Muslims in Maharashtra’s history
During his speech, Thackeray made a special mention of two Muslim individuals and their contributions. He recalled poet Shahir Amar Shaikh, who played a key role in the movement for a unified Maharashtra and frequently visited the Thackeray household. He also mentioned Shamima Akhtar, a Kashmiri Muslim girl, who sang Maharashtra’s state song "Garja Maharashtra Maza” at the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
Referring to those who promote divisive politics, Thackeray said, “When she sang this song in front of those who chant ‘Katenge toh batenge,’ they must have started questioning what would happen to their politics.”
Criticism of political betrayal
Thackeray criticised those prioritising religious symbolism over governance, stating, “Performing religious rituals does not define values; being a good citizen does.” He questioned Shinde’s loyalty to Maharashtra, saying, “What is the use of taking a dip in the Ganga and then accepting ‘50 kokhe’ here? No matter how many times you take a dip, the betrayal of Maharashtra won’t be washed away.”
He also referenced remarks made by Tara Bhavalkar, the president of the Marathi Literary Conference, who indirectly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Echoing her, he said, “How can we trust someone who claims to be non-biological? There should be a nationwide discussion on this.” However, he refrained from commenting on the controversial issue surrounding Deputy Speaker Nilam Gorhe.
Marathi identity and opposition to BJP’s policies
Thackeray reaffirmed his commitment to the Marathi identity, stating, “We are Hindus, but we are also Marathi. What we decide becomes the law.” He highlighted his tenure as Chief Minister, during which he made it mandatory to use Marathi on shop signboards, and questioned the audacity of those who challenged this law in court.
While clarifying that he was not against the Gujarati community, Thackeray accused the BJP leadership of attempting to undermine Maharashtra’s economic power. He alleged that central leaders were trying to weaken the Marathi identity by relocating industries outside the state and pushing Marathi people into economic hardship. “But that begging bowl will be thrown back in your face with a Marathi man standing before you," he asserted.
Thackeray also criticised the reluctance to grant Marathi the status of a classical language, questioning the authority of those opposing it. “The language of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was Marathi. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t have seen Delhi,” he declared.
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Rupee falls 28 paise to 94.77 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 28 paise to 94.77 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday as market sentiment took a dramatic turn after reports emerged that the US and Iran are discussing a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at reducing tensions and reopening negotiations.
Forex traders said Brent oil prices, which had fallen to USD 98 on the US-Iran peace deal, edged slightly higher to USD 101 per barrel after investors weighed the prospects for a Middle East peace deal.
Moreover, factors such as unabated foreign capital outflows amid rising geopolitical uncertainties further dented investor sentiment.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 94.77 against the US dollar, registering a fall of 28 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee appreciated 69 paise to close at 94.49 against the US dollar.
"Markets are currently focused on the critical 48-hour window during which the US expects Tehran’s formal response through Pakistani mediators," said CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with more bombing if it doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid a report that the warring sides were nearing an agreement to end the war.
US media outlet Axios reported, quoting US officials and two other sources, that the US and Iran were getting close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.
The US expects Iranian responses on several key points over the next 48 hours, Axios reported, adding that nothing has been agreed yet. This was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 98.01, down 0.01 per cent.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.65 per cent at USD 101.83 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex declined 160.24 points to 77,798.28 in early trade, while the Nifty was down 30.25 points to 24,300.70.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 5,834.90 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
On the domestic macroeconomic front, the country's goods and services exports rose 4.6 per cent to an all-time high of USD 863.11 billion during 2025-26, up from USD 825.26 billion in 2024-25, despite global economic uncertainties, according to revised commerce ministry data.
Merchandise exports grew 0.93 per cent to USD 441.78 billion in the last fiscal year from USD 437.70 billion in 2024-25, the data showed.
