15 July,2026 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. PIC/X/@Dev_Fadnavis
CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over the party's "Ram Raksha" protest and also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over a protest by social activists and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The Chief Minister's remarks were seen as a strong rebuttal to Thackeray, who had announced the Ram Raksha protest at a Ram temple in Nagpur over the alleged theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Slamming his former ally-turned-rival, implying that he could not recite the Ram Raksha hymn, and taking a swipe at the Sena (UBT)'s proposed protest at Nagpur on July 18, Fadnavis said, "I am ready to join him [Thackeray] in reciting the Ram Raksha. I can even read two pages with him. But one should first understand its meaning and why it is recited. The Ram Raksha should not be used for politics."
Fadnavis also targeted the Congress over the protest staged by social activist Sonam Wangchuk and CJP at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. "First, they [the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi] should introspect about their own conduct before speaking about others," Fadnavis said.
Speculation is rife that the NCP-SP may extend support to the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in state. Adding to the buzz, DCM Eknath Shinde flew to New Delhi on Tuesday. According to sources, Shinde is lobbying for greater representation for his party in the expected Union Cabinet reshuffle. There is speculation that his son and Kalyan MP, Shrikant Shinde, could be inducted as a Union Cabinet minister. Another berth as minister of state is also said to be under consideration for one of the six MPs who recently rebelled against the Sena (UBT).
