Rahul Gandhi did not insult Hindutva: Uddhav Thackeray backs Congress leader amid row

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday defended Rahul Gandhi whose speech in the Lok Sabha targeting the BJP has kicked up a row stating that the Congress leader did not insult Hindutva reported news agency PTIUddhav Thackeray said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha did not utter a single word against Hindutva during his speech in ParliamentI have heard Rahul Gandhis speech None of us will insult Hindutva and we will not tolerate that This includes Rahul ji Rahul ji said BJP is not Hindutva I have stated very clearly that I have abandoned BJP not Hindutva Thackeray told reporters in Mumbai reported PTIHe Gandhi was trying to show a photo of Lord Shiva but even that was banned Is this Hindutva I dont think Rahul ji insulted Hindutva Our Hindutva is pious he added reported PTIIn his first speech as the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Gandhi on Monday launched a noholdsbarred attack on the BJP accusing the leaders of the ruling party of dividing people on communal lines Certain remarks he made during a discussion were later expungedMeanwhile Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray said the decision to suspend Ambadas Danve the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council was onesided and a preplanned conspiracy reported PTITalking to reporters Thackeray said Danve was not given any opportunity to present his side before being suspendedThackeray said as the chief of the Shiv Sena UBT he was apologising for the remarks made by Danve if it hurt women but asked what action was taken against the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and Shiv Sena leaders for making such comments outside the House reported PTIThere was a need to discuss the resolution to suspend Danve but there was no discussion on it he said reported PTIHe said the suspension was done to overshadow the victory of his party in the legislative council polls Shiv Sena UBT candidates Anil Parab and Jagannath Abhyankar won from the Mumbai Graduates and Teachers constituencies respectivelyThe conspiracy to suspend Danve was a planned conspiracy Thackeray said reported PTIWhatever you government do is democracy and act by us opposition a crime he added taking a dig at the government reported PTIHe said the suspension was done at a time when the opposition had begun to dissect the state budgetThe Maharashtra legislative council on Tuesday suspended Danve for five days on the grounds of using abusive language in the HouseDanve was accused of using abusive language against BJP legislator Prasad Lad during a discussion in the Upper House of the state legislature on Monday evening Lad had demanded a resolution condemning Congress MP Rahul Gandhis not Hindus remarks in the Lok Sabha which elicited a sharp reaction from the Sena UBT leader reported PTIOn Tuesday Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil tabled a motion to suspend Danve which was passed with a majorityWith inputs from PTI