lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 18, 2019 10:10 IST

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday launched an attack on the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-led Opposition parties over their demand for proof of aerial strikes on the terrorist base in Pakistan. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray dared these parties to declare their PM candidate.

The two leaders on Sunday addressed a gathering of functionaries of the BJP and Sena at Aurangabad and Nashik.

“On the one hand, there is a nationalistic party and on the other, some people are seeking proofs from the armed forces. They call Masood Azhar ji. If their government comes to power, they will rewrite history – Afzal Khan ji, Aurangzeb ji, General Dyer ji. People have to decide if they want a patriotic alliance such as ours or the ones who question the valour of our jawans,” Fadnavis said, without naming Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Thackeray said the Opposition lacks ideology and the 22 parties came together in West Bengal earlier this year only for power. “We had our differences, but we want Narendrabhai as the PM again. You [the Opposition] stood together and joined hands recently. Now I challenge you to announce your PM candidate and allow a one-on-one contest. Is there any consensus on Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate? What ideology do these Opposition parties have?”

Thackeray said that the Opposition parties are still figuring out how to go ahead in the elections.

Fadnavis said while the Opposition came together to remove PM Modi, the BJP and Sena came together over their Hindutva ideology. “We raised issues [with the BJP] over Dev [God], Desh [country] and Dharma [righteousness]. We raised the Ram temple issue, we demanded action against Pakistan, and we sought the welfare of farmers and common man. These were delivered. And today we have come together for the same reasons, not for power.”