Shiv Sena (UBT) slams BJP over Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Akhand Hindustan push

The Shiv Sena UBT has launched a sharp attack on its former ally BJP calling the ruling partyrsquos efforts to highlight Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjeersquos vision of ldquoAkhand Hindustanrdquo a ldquocompletely futilerdquo exerciseIn an editorial published in its party mouthpiece ldquoSaamanardquo the Uddhav Thackerayled party questioned the Centrersquos spending on events and campaigns linked to Mookerjeersquos 125th birth anniversary celebrationsThe editorial claimed that there is ldquono evidencerdquo of Mookerjeersquos participation in the nationbuilding process the freedom movement or any major public movementIt also criticised the BJPrsquos interpretation of nationalism and Hindutva describing it as a ldquostrange concoctionrdquo that lacks ldquopurity or sacrednessrdquoEditorial questions tributes to MookerjeeTargeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders for praising the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder the editorial described the tributes as ldquocomplete hypocrisyrdquoOn the birth anniversaries of the true architects of the nations destiny words of tribute are used miserly while flowers are showered on those who took an opposite stance in the countrys freedom struggle The exact same pattern is visible in the case of Dr Mookerjee the editorial noted adding that his true character has been exposed due to the BJPs extreme Hindutva and its indigestion of nationalismThe Shiv Sena UBT alleged that the BJPrsquos political approach reflects contradictions between its claims and actionsParty raises allegations over temple trust affairsThe editorial also targeted those associated with Mookerjeersquos ideology while referring to alleged issues related to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra TrustThe Shiv Sena UBT claimed that people following Mookerjeersquos ideology are managing the affairs of the Ram temple and alleged irregularities in its functioningThe editorial referred to recent changes in the temple trust leadership including the replacement of Champat Rai with Bajrang Lal BagdaIf you look at the past antics of Bajrang Lal Bagda the time has come to say that Champat Rai was better the editorial allegedIt further claimed that such controversies reflected deeper issues within the BJPrsquos political structureShiv Sena UBT accuses BJP of weakening regional partiesThe editorial also accused the ruling party of using political power to weaken regional parties with similar ideological backgroundsThese very people broke the proHindutva Shiv Sena into pieces and misused the Constitution for that purpose it charged referring to the split in the original Shiv SenaThe Uddhav Thackerayled party has repeatedly criticised the BJP following the split that resulted in two factions of the Shiv SenaEditorial criticises government over national securityThe Shiv Sena UBT also criticised the Centrersquos handling of national security and foreign policy mattersThe editorial alleged that after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam leaders only issued empty threats against Pakistan It further claimed that Operation Sindoor was left incomplete and that the government straightaway retreated under the pressure of President Donald TrumpThe editorial concluded by questioning the ruling partyrsquos policies and claimed that under the current leadership the country Hindutva and Ram have become unsafe