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It comes after Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde, who visited Prayagraj and took a dip in Sangam last week, questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray over not going to Kumbh Mela.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde | File Image/PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday hit back at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over the recently concluded Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj, asking whether RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat took a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam during the festivities.
It comes after Shinde, who visited Prayagraj and took a dip in Sangam last week, questioned Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray over not going to Kumbh Mela.
Before Shinde, BJP’s senior leader and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too had visited Prayagraj with his family and took a dip in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.
Taking on Shinde, Raut said, “Shinde should have the courage to ask this question to respected RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ji! Is the boss of BJP not a Hindu?”
एकनाथ शिंदे कमाल की चीज है.खुद को हिंदुवादी कहनेवाले उद्धव ठाकरे कुंभ क्यो नहीं गये..ये शिंदेका सवाल है.very good.शिंदेने ये सवाल आदरणीय आरएसएस प्रमुख मोहन भागवत जी से करनेकी हिम्मत दिखानी चाहीये!क्या bjp की बॉस हिंदू नहीं है?@mieknathshinde@Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/TXgeWcaMej
— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) March 2, 2025
“I have seen the photo of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) taking a bath at Kumbh festivities…but I have not seen his photos of visiting Kumbh before he became the Prime Minister,” he told the reporters.
Asking the BJP to give lessons on Hindutva to Shinde, he further said, “Our Shiv Sena (UBT) does not believe in fake Hindutva and publicity stunts.”
Shinde Jabs Thackeray
Earlier, Shinde took a sharp jibe at Uddhav Thackeray for choosing to skip the Maha Kumbh event in Uttar Pradesh, saying those who campaign in the name of Hindutva have skipped the major religious event.
“Those who skipped Maha Kumbh should be asked why they skipped it. They keep saying they are Hindus. Balasaheb Thackeray proudly gave the slogan ‘garv se kaho hum Hindu hain’ (proclaim proudly that we are Hindu) but now they are scared of calling themselves Hindu and call (Bal Thackeray) as the Hinduhriday Samrat,” Shinde said.
Responding to it, Thackeray said, “I respect the Ganga but what is the use of taking a dip in it after taking 50 khokas (street lingo for crore)? Here, you betray Maharashtra, take 50 khokas and then you take a dip. This does not wash anyone’s sin. How will the tag of being a betrayer go even after numerous dips (in the Ganga).”
The Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings, concluded on February 26, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, attracting millions of devotees.
- Location :
Maharashtra, India, India
