Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday accused Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray of invoking Lord Ram for political gain, alleging that his recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra was an attempt to rebuild his lost electoral support.Bawankule said, “Thackeray’s Ram Raksha recital is hypocrisy. After losing public support, he is trying to create a vote bank by taking the name of Lord Ram.”He asserted that Lord Ram was “a matter of faith, values and culture, not politics” for the BJP and recalled that Thackeray did not attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya despite receiving an invitation.Defending CM Devendra Fadnavis against criticism over his commitment to Hindutva, the minister said no one had the authority to question his ideological credentials.“Fadnavis has upheld the values of Hindutva throughout his life. He participated in the kar seva movement during the Babri agitation. Those questioning him today should answer where they were then,” Bawankule said.On reports of a recent meeting with NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Jayant Patil, Bawankule said dialogue between political leaders was essential for the state’s development. He added that the govt was duty-bound to positively consider constructive suggestions from the Opposition.Rejecting speculation of differences within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Bawankule said leaders of all constituent parties remained in constant communication.“We are united on the agenda of development, while the Opposition is spreading such narratives because it has no positive issues,” he said.Asked about Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s proposed saree distribution scheme, Bawankule said it may have been deferred for certain reasons but added that Shinde would take an appropriate decision on its revival.Responding to reports of a possible joint agitation by the Thackeray cousins over the Ram Mandir theft issue, Bawankule said protests were a democratic right but maintained that “public support is earned only through positive work.”He also expressed confidence that the proposed Women’s Reservation Bill enjoys broad public backing and claimed that several Congress MPs would ultimately support the legislation.
