NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday accused Uddhav Thackeray of stealing the people’s mandate after the 2019 assembly elections and called the INDIA bloc a “ten-mouthed Ravana” whose effigy should be burnt. Addressing his party’s Dussehra rally in Mumbai, Shinde attacked the opposition over its allegations of vote theft, accused it of undermining constitutional institutions and said the government would support farmers facing crop losses due to water scarcity.Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde alleged that the actual “vote theft” took place after the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, when the undivided Shiv Sena joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a government.“You did not even contest the election. You made a backdoor entry and became chief minister. You stabbed the mandate and grabbed the post. It was a huge dacoity against the people’s mandate,” he said.Shinde questioned the opposition’s allegations of irregularities in electoral rolls, saying it had earlier raised concerns over an increase in voter numbers and was now questioning the deletion of names.“This is double standards and a daily show of new drama. The INDIA bloc is a ten-mouthed Ravana, and we need to burn its effigy,” he said, accusing the opposition of seeking to undermine the Constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.He also questioned why the opposition had not alleged vote theft when the INDIA bloc won elections in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. “When you lose, you call it vote chori and start alleging foul play. The INDIA bloc won elections in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Why was there no vote chori then?” he asked.Shinde accused the Congress of looting the country for 70 years and alleged that it was now demanding ballot papers after previously winning elections through booth capturing.He also hit out at opposition leaders for their remarks on regime changes in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, accusing them of encouraging anarchy in India.“This is Hindustan, a new India. This is an India that enters Pakistan,” he said, adding that people would teach a lesson to those he described as anti-national.Questioning the opposition’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, Shinde said Modi had made India the world’s fourth-largest economy and received the highest civilian awards from 36 countries. He also claimed there was no corruption case against the prime minister.“Why use such foul and low language against our PM?” he asked.Shinde further accused opposition leaders of speaking in Pakistan’s favour and alleged that their statements were being used to create headlines there. Referring to Captain Smit Machchhar, who saved a plane during an attack, he said the pilot had acknowledged drawing inspiration from Modi.Shinde claimed that Modi, the US president and the Israeli prime minister had congratulated the pilot, while some opposition leaders had not.“Whatever they say here becomes a headline in Pakistan. This is a huge conspiracy…Why do you speak in favour of Pakistan? This is unfortunate. This is sedition and not any kind of love for India,” he alleged.The deputy chief minister also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for organising a rally against the Supreme Court, alleging that it amounted to an insult to the judiciary and an attack on a constitutional institution.“On the one hand, they hold the Constitution in their hands, and on the other, their actions amount to an attack on it. They are moving towards dividing the country,” he said.Taking a swipe at the opposition’s demand for the election of the chief election commissioner, Shinde sarcastically asked whether it would also seek elections for the chief justice of India and municipal corporation chiefs.He alleged that opposition parties were promoting a “fake narrative” of vote theft through rallies in Mumbai while farmers were struggling with crop losses.Turning to the agrarian crisis, Shinde said Maharashtra was facing drought-like conditions as standing crops dried up due to a weak monsoon. He announced that he had dispatched an initial 100 tonnes of foodgrains to distressed farmers as an advance Diwali gift, with more consignments to follow.“Today, I have dispatched the first tranche of 100 tonnes of foodgrains to farmers as an advance Diwali gift. There will be more such rounds of assistance given to farmers,” he said.Shinde said excessive rainfall had washed away land last year, causing serious losses to crops and cattle. This year, the monsoon had failed to provide adequate relief to farmers, he added.“Unfortunately, this year, the monsoon turned its back on farmers. We reached out to distressed farmers who are shedding tears and offered them consolation. This is not the time to politicise the farmers’ plight but to extend support to them,” he said.
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Describing himself as a farmer’s son, Shinde said he understood the hardships faced by cultivators and their families. He also defended his work on the ground, taking an indirect swipe at his critics.“Let me make it very clear that I don’t only give ‘bhashan’ (speeches), but also give ration to farmers,” he said.
