If someone says Jai Shri Ram, reply with Jai Shivaji-Jai Bhavani, why did Uddhav Thackeray suddenly say this?
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of creating divisions and poisoning the society. Addressing party workers, he urged his supporters to say ‘Jai Shivaji’ and Jai Bhavani in response to ‘Jai Shri Ram’. He stressed that whoever says Jai Shri Ram should also say Jai Shivaji and Jai Bhavani. He strongly opposed the actions of the BJP and said that their intention is to challenge their social influence. If someone says Jai Shri Ram, do not let him go without saying Jai Shivaji and Jai Bhavani. The BJP has poisoned our society. He said that I will challenge the BJP strongly, because of what they have done to our society. Thackeray questioned the patriotic stance of the BJP, referring to their changing stance on international sports. He said that despite opposition to matches with Pakistan, India now plays cricket with both Pakistan and Bangladesh. Responding to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s Assembly remarks about project continuity, Thackeray suggested that if Fadnavis wanted to follow his example, he should implement the farmer loan waiver in the March 10 budget and increase funds for the Shiv Bhojan and Girl Sister programmes. Thackeray explained his decision to stop certain projects during his chief ministership. He said he would have moved the Metro 3 carshed to Kanjur Marg if he had remained in office, claiming that the land is currently being allotted to the Adani Group. The location of the Metro 3 carshed remains a contentious issue between the BJP and Thackeray’s party. After the Thackeray-led MVA government collapsed in 2022 due to Eknath Shinde’s rebellion, the new BJP government chose Aarey in the western suburbs for the carshed, while Thackeray had preferred Kanjur Marg in the east.