EC concludes arguments in Shiv Sena dispute; verdict next

Times of India | 1 month ago | 30-01-2023 | 10:55 pm

NEW DELHI: The final written submissions in the Shiv Sena symbol dispute were made by the two rival factions -- one headed by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and the other by his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray -- before the Election Commission on Monday, putting an end to hearing of arguments in the case. This has paved the way for EC to pronounce its judgement on which of the two factions is the "real" Shiv Sena.There is no clarity yet on the timing of the EC decision in the case that relates to the dispute between the two rival factions over the use of 'Shiv Sena' name and its reserved symbol ‘bow and arrow'.As of now the two factions are using separate party names and symbols allotted to them after the EC 'froze' the Shiv Sena name and party symbol until the dispute was decided by it. The two factions gave their final written submissions on Monday, after conclusion of the oral arguments, EC sources confirmed to TOI. A judgement will be pronounced by EC in due course after carefully weighing all aspects, they added.The EC decision in the Sena symbol dispute is keenly awaited ahead of the ensuing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. While it is not clear when the EC will pronounce its verdict, the bypoll process for two Maharashtra assembly seats – Kasba Peth and Chinchwad – is already underway. The polling in the two constituencies — to which EC had announced bypoll on January 18 — is scheduled to be held on February 27.

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‘Spoke to Rahul, Savarkar issue sorted out’: Sanjay Raut

The Indian Express | 12 hours ago | 29-03-2023 | 12:45 pm

The Indian Express

12 hours ago | 29-03-2023 | 12:45 pm

The Shiv Sena (UBT), which had warned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi against “insulting” Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, said on Wednesday that the issue has been resolved and they were “firmly united” with the Opposition parties in their fight against the BJP and the Narendra Modi government.“The issue has ended for us…The matter has been resolved,” MP Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray’s close confidant, told The Indian Express. “I have spoken to Rahul Gandhi about the issue,” he added.In his speech in Malegaon on Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray had warned Rahul Gandhi that the Sena (UBT) would not tolerate any insult to Savarkar. “Savarkar is our deity…we will not tolerate any insult to him,” Thackeray had said.Asked whether Gandhi had promised not to raise the Savarkar issue again, Raut said, “We do not want to speak about it anymore. As I have said, the matter has been resolved.”When asked what the party’s stand would be if Gandhi raises the issue again, Raut said, “If Rahul Gandhi raises the issue again, we will see what to do… But we are confident he will not raise the issue.”Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) will be attending the meetings convened by the Opposition or the Congress. The Sena had on Monday night skipped a meeting convened by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. “We are firmly united with the Opposition to save democracy and dislodge the BJP from power,” Raut said.On Tuesday, Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said 19 parties were saying in one voice that democracy was in danger and “we have to unitedly face and fight the dictatorial government”. The Shiv Sena (UBT), he said, was one of the 19 parties.“There were 18 parties last night. Today, I have said 19. The number will go up from 18 to 19 when Shiv Sena is part of the group,” Ramesh said at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday. To this, Raut said, “We are with the Congress and the Opposition…We will be attending all their meetings.”

Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut Get High Court Summons In Defamation Case

Ndtv | 1 day ago | 28-03-2023 | 03:23 pm

Ndtv

1 day ago | 28-03-2023 | 03:23 pm

The April 17 summons is on a defamation case filed by Rahul Ramesh Shewale.New Delhi: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, his son and former state minister Aditya Thackeray, and his close confidante Sanjay Raut were today summoned by the Delhi High Court in a defamation case. The April 17 summons is in connection with a petition filed by Rahul Ramesh Shewale, an MP from the rival Eknath Shinde camp of the Shiv Sena.Mr Raut and other leaders from the Thackeray camp had claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr Shinde and his fellow leaders "bought" the 'bow and arrow' symbol of the Shiv Sena for Rs 2,000 crore.Mr Shewale in his petition to the court demanded that it restrain the Thackeray camp leaders from making such remarks in the future. The court, however, said it wouldn't pass an order without hearing the other party as it's a political issue.Rahul Ramesh Shewale's lawyer during the hearing said that Sanjay Raut and others had made the allegation against an institution like the Election Commission of India. The Delhi High Court said the ECI is capable of responding to such claims.The Election Commission recently recognised the faction led by Mr Shinde as the Shiv Sena and allotted it the "bow and arrow" poll symbol.Eknath Shinde, who calls himself the true inheritor of the legacy of Shiv Sena founder and Uddhav Thackeray's father Bal Thackeray, has accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief of attempting to destroy the careers of leaders of his own party.Naming Raj Thackeray, Uddhav Thackeray's estranged cousin, and Narayan Rane, among others who left his side, Mr Shinde said he had never seen a leader who conspires with other political parties to destroy the political careers of his own people.''How will the party grow in such a situation? I am not 'gaddar' (traitor) but 'khuddar' (a self-respecting person). Uddhav Thackeray doesn't have the right to call us traitors," he said.Upset at Mr Thackeray for compromising with Shiv Sena's core ideals and ditching the BJP to form an alliance government with direct rivals Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP, Mr Shinde launched a coup that brought down the Maha Vikas Agadi government.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comEknath Shinde, along with 39 Shiv Sena MLAs, joined forces with the BJP, which he said was his party's natural ally, and formed a new government with BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as his deputy.Shiv Sena last week sacked Sanjay Raut as the leader of its parliamentary party and appointed Lok Sabha MP Gajanan Kirtikar as his successor.

Eknath Shinde Attacks Uddhav Thackeray Over Rahul Gandhi's Savarkar Remark

Ndtv | 2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 08:38 pm

Ndtv

2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 08:38 pm

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray over Rahul Gandhi's remarks on late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.Mr Shinde also said the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' across the state.Mr Shinde, who was addressing reporters alongside Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, asked Thackeray to show "courage" to oppose these remarks.Mr Shinde said the Thackeray-led outfit had crossed all limits when they joined the Congress in opposing Rahul Gandhi's disqualification as Lok Sabha MP last week.Gandhi was disqualified on March 24 after a court in Surat in Gujarat sentenced him to two years in jail in a defamation case."What are you (Thackeray) going to do when you say you are not going to tolerate Savarkar's insult. You need to show that courage," Mr Shinde told reporters.Mr Shinde said Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray had launched a "joda mara abhiyaan" (hitting with slippers) in 2004 against the then Union minister and Congressman Mani Shankar Aiyar for his remarks against Savarkar."Those talking about Hindutva, their MLAs saying we will not tolerate Savarkar's insult were quiet for (the sake of) politics and Maha Vikas Aghadi. This is their double standards," Mr Shinde alleged.At a rally on Sunday, Thackeray said he considered Savarkar as his "idol", and had asked Gandhi to refrain from "insulting" him."By making defamatory statements against Savarkar, the sympathy gained by Rahul Gandhi will start ebbing. This will, for sure, put the Maharashtra Congress in a uncomfortable position," an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' had said on Monday.The Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.To become like Savarkar, one needs to sacrifice and have love for the country, Mr Shinde said.Mr Shinde also dubbed Gandhi's criticism in the United Kingdom of the Narendra Modi government as treason.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comGandhi had criticised the country and it democracy there, Mr Shinde alleged.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"Rahul Gandhi Should Stay In Andamans Jail": Eknath Shinde On Savarkar Row

Ndtv | 2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 06:20 pm

Ndtv

2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 06:20 pm

Eknath Shinde has attacked Rahul Gandhi over his Savarkar comment. (File)Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's comment that he will not apologise because he is "not Savarkar" has led to a unity of sorts between rivals Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and Eknath Shinde, the current Chief Minister who heads the original Shiv Sena after revolting against Mr Thackeray.Mr Gandhi is no longer a Lok Sabha MP after his conviction in a criminal defamation case for asking if those with the surname "Modi" were "thieves", which the BJP alleged was derogatory to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.When asked whether he would apologise, Mr Gandhi told reporters on Saturday, "My name is not Savarkar. I am a Gandhi. I won't apologise." The Congress leader's allusion was to the Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, who sent mercy petitions to the British when he was jailed in the Andamans during the freedom struggle.Savarkar is an important figure for the Sena, which is why earlier today Mr Thackeray's faction members went wearing black to a meeting called by their Maharashtra ally Congress to show their disagreement.This evening, Mr Shinde, in a rare move that aligned with his rival Mr Thackeray's stand, also launched a fresh attack on Mr Gandhi over this comment on Savarkar."The citizens of Maharashtra are upset with what Rahul Gandhi said. We will organise Savarkar Gaurav yatra throughout the state to inform about the sacrifice of Savarkar... Rahul Gandhi should go and stay at the Andamans jail for one day if he can," Mr Shinde told reporters."Savarkar isn't a God only of Maharashtra, but of the entire country," the Chief Minister said. He also took a swipe at Mr Thackeray for diluting the Sena's core principles by joining hands with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)."People who keep on speaking about Hindutva didn't say anything on Rahul Gandhi during the Maharashtra assembly session. They wore black ribbons, stood with Congress leaders and opposed the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi. The entire state watched this," Mr Shinde said."The leader who said they won't tolerate insult of Savarkar didn't say anything in the assembly. Their leaders were quiet. They are doing this just to stay in MVA? You all should ask him what will you do if you won't tolerate the insults?" Mr Shinde said, referring to the Maha Vikas Aghadi.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comTeam Thackeray has said they will not attend a dinner organised by the Congress tonight to discuss issues linked to Mr Gandhi's comment.The Congress has said Mr Gandhi's disqualification as MP was based on a frivolous defamation case. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Mr Gandhi's "Modi surname" comment was not aimed at OBC. "Is Nirav Modi an OBC?" Mr Tharoor said, referring to the fugitive businessman who alleged scammed Punjab National Bank and fled India.

Eknath Shinde Changes Profile Pictures To Savarkar On Social Media Accounts

Ndtv | 2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 06:19 pm

Ndtv

2 days ago | 27-03-2023 | 06:19 pm

Eknath Shinde also announced he would hold 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' in Maharashtra.Mumbai: As a gesture of support for Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today updated his social media accounts and placed Savarkar's pictures on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as profile pictures.The gesture came in accordance with the ongoing controversy following Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Savarkar that "My name is not Savarkar, won't apologise". While interacting with media, Eknath Shinde also announced he would hold 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' in Maharashtra."I condemn Rahul Gandhi's statement on Veer Savarkar. He played a great role in the country's freedom struggle. Due to the contribution of such heroes, India got freedom. We will hold 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' in the state," said Eknath Shinde.Further detailing about 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra', Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "We will hold Savarkar Gaurav Yatra in every district of the state to talk about the contributions of Veer Savarkar. Simultaneously, we will protest against those who insult Savarkar."Shinde also took a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray who had shown his disagreement on Rahul's remark. Shinde termed Thackeray's move as "belated wisdom". "Whatever Uddhav Thackeray is saying now on Savarkar's insult is belated wisdom, when the assembly started, Rahul Gandhi was speaking so much evil against Savarkar, but those people did not oppose it at all. Rather, on the contrary, everyone agitated to save Rahul Gandhi's membership of parliament," alleged Shinde."If you have the guts, then show it by doing what Balasaheb Thackeray had done, he kicked Mani Shankar Aiyar for insulting Savarkar," Shinde challenged.Whatever Rahul Gandhi did and now whatever Uddhav Thackeray's people are saying it seems like a pre-planned strategy, so we completely condemn Rahul Gandhi's statement.On the other hand, in the latest development in the ongoing controversy, Uddhav Thackeray faction decided not to attend the meeting called of like-minded parties at Mallikarjun Kharge's. residence.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com"Uddhav Thackeray faction decides not to attend the meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence today because Rahul Gandhi said that I am not Savarkar, I am Gandhi" said Sanjay Raut to ANI.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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