Uddhav Thackeray calls BJP ‘dagabaz sarkar’, says they have no right to chant ‘Vande Mataram’
Jalna (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday called the BJP-led Maharashtra government a “dagabaz sarkar” (treacherous government), accusing it of betraying farmers.
He said the BJP and its allies have no right to chant the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ when they are “looting Bharat Mata”, referring to the controversial Pune land deal involving a firm linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s son Parth.
The Sena (UBT) chief was speaking after visiting Patoda village in Partur tehsil of Jalna district on the last day of his four-day tour of the Marathwada region to take stock of the devastation caused by torrential rains this monsoon.
Farmers suffered heavy losses due to intense rains and floods, yet the government’s relief measures remained slow and inadequate, he alleged.
“Farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce. The government announced procurement at MSP (minimum support price), but the purchasing centres started (operating) very late,” Thackeray said.
The former chief minister accused the government of deliberately delaying the ‘panchnama’ (damage assessment) process.
“The government is deceiving farmers. That’s why I call upon farmers to make their own panchnama of this ‘dagabaz sarkar’,” he said, urging farmers to visit government officials and ask them whether they did loss assessment and submit reports.
He also questioned the date of June 30, 2026, given by the government for a decision on farm loan waiver, terming it “bogus and deceitful.”
Thackeray said the “so-called” package declared by the chief minister is nothing but “cheating the farmers”. “Fadnavis called it a historic package. I call it a great deception,” he said, demanding Rs 50,000 per hectare compensation for affected cultivators.
The Devendra Fadnavis-led government last month announced a Rs 31,628-crore relief package for farmers in the state, saying heavy showers and floods damaged crops over 68.7 lakh hectares across 29 districts. At that time, the CM had termed the package an “unprecedented effort” by the government to stand firmly with every affected farmer in the time of crisis.
Thackeray also targeted the CM over the Pune land deal.
“Fadnavis has no courage to act. This is nothing but a loot of public money and the country. BJP and its allies have no right to chant Vande Mataram when they are looting Bharat Mata,” Thackeray said.
Hitting out at Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar, who had criticised repeated demands for loan waivers, Thackeray said, “Ajit Pawar himself has benefited from land deals. He has no moral right to speak about farmers.”
He accused the BJP of becoming a “Bharashtachar Janata Party” and alleged that the government had indulged in scams and corruption.
“The prime minister made ‘notebandi’ (demonetisation). Now, farmers should make ‘votebandi’ against the BJP and its allies,” he said.
After their dismal performance in last year’s assembly elections, the Sena (UBT) and its MVA allies, the Congress and NCP (SP), are gearing up for the upcoming local body polls in the state. The ruling Mahayuti has the BJP, Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Shiv Sena, headed by Eknath Shinde, as partners.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
