Fadnavis says Sena will have to ally with BJP 'for Hindutva'
Mumbai, Oct 23: Despite its constant criticism of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena will have to ally with the BJP for the 2019 polls over the issue of Hindutva, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Tuesday.
He also strongly favoured construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya.
He said those with even basic understanding of politics know the BJP and the Sena would have to fight together to win elections.
The BJP chief minister was speaking at the "Mumbai Manthan" conclave organised by Hindi news channel Aaj Tak.
Earlier this year, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had announced his party would go it alone in all future elections.
Though the Sena is a BJP ally, it often criticises the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra over their policies and decisions.
"Uddhav ji keeps talking talking about Hindutva. In that case, there are just two parties (the BJP and the Sena) working for Hindutva. Therefore, they have to ally with us for Hindutva," Fadnavis said.
Responding to a query on Ram temple, he said, "Devendra Fadnavis is one of the 125 crore Indians who wants to see a grand Ram temple being built,".
The BJP wants to let the construction happen democratically and as per Supreme Court's directive, he added.
Fadnavis said the Supreme Court has validated the state government's stand on the arrest of five Left-wing activists for their alleged links with Maoists.
He, however, conceded the police department erred in holding a press conference over the issue.
After the arrest of activists in August-end, the Bombay High Court had raised questions over the Maharashtra police's media briefing on its case against them.
"It is possible we were wrong but how could we sit back while we were being constantly abused? If we have erred, we will apologise, but they (the activists) were trying to spread anarchy.
"Their crime won't be lessened even if we apologise (for the presser)," said Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio.
Fadnavis said there are "pseudo liberals" in Delhi who are trying to save these activists, but what the BJP was doing was in the national interest.
"There are more evidences apart from the assassination plot of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji. We have 10 times more evidence against these activists than we had based on which professor (G N) Saibaba was convicted (for Maoist links)," he said.
The police had claimed to have unearthed a Maoist plot to kill Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The chief minister said the opposition was not concerned about the country and it was only thinking about removing Modi from power.
Fadnavis said he had no hatred for the Gandhi family and regarded its members just as his political and ideological opponents.
"We are in the same country not in Pakistan," he said.
Fadnavis said he wasn't made chief minister due to his proximity with the RSS, but because under his leadership, the BJP exposed opposition parties and fought them.
"When I first became CM people were apprehensive. Now, I have proven track record with facts and figures. Now, not my caste but my work will be seen (in next state polls)," he said.
He backed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over renaming Allahabad as Prayagraj.
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Woman dies by suicide amid alleged social boycott, five booked in Yadgir
Yadgir (Karnataka) (PTI): A 46-year-old woman allegedly died by suicide after facing sustained social boycott and harassment by members of her community, police said on Thursday.
An FIR has been registered in Yadgir district based on the complaint lodged by Yellappa Suryavamshi (50).
Suryavamshi alleged that the victim Kamalamma (46), a resident of Girinagar area in Yadgir, allegedly jumped into the Bhima river near Joladadagi village between the evening of March 14 and the morning of March 15, following alleged mental harassment linked to a social boycott imposed on her family.
Suryavamshi alleged that their family had been ostracised by members of their community over an unverified accusation involving their son.
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“A village panchayat held on September 8, 2025, had directed the family not to interact with a relative and imposed a 10-year social boycott, asking them to vacate the village,” Suryavamshi said in his complaint.
Following the decision, the family had shifted to a rented house in Yadgir town.
However, earlier this month, when the woman returned to their native locality, a group of individuals allegedly confronted her and reiterated the boycott, the FIR said.
“Despite the earlier boycott, she was again prevented from staying in the village and was subjected to continued mental harassment,” the complainant said.
The complainant further alleged that even relatives who offered shelter to the woman were threatened with similar social ostracism.
“Those who gave her refuge were warned of facing a fresh boycott by convening another panchayat,” Suryavamshi alleged.
Unable to bear the alleged humiliation and pressure, the woman is said to have taken the extreme step, police said.
Her body was recovered from the river on March 15 and shifted to the district government hospital mortuary in Yadgir, police said.
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against five individuals under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), police said, adding that further investigation is underway.
