Days after boasting of hosting a ‘delicious dinner’ at Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s residence Matoshri , the party’s sudden U-turn in accepting BJP chief Amit Shah’s dinner invitation at Delhi is an act of submission and has raised questions over its intention, said the Opposition on Tuesday.
Mr. Thackeray on Monday joined the dinner hosted by Mr. Shah for the members of ruling NDA, following which he held a brief meeting with him in which both leaders are said to have discussed the upcoming presidential election.
Ironically, last month Sena had ridiculed the talks about dinner at Delhi saying those who want party’s support are welcome to visit Matoshri where delicious food is served. The Sena’s aggressive stand against the BJP since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls had ignited talks about a possible break-up between the two old-time allies.
In the recently concluded budget session of the State Legislature, Sena MLAs were in the forefront along with the Opposition to demand farm loan waiver.
“In his talks with Prime Minister, Uddhavji aggressively put forward the demand of farm loan waiver. While he congratulated the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision, he asked the PM to implement the same in Maharashtra as well,” said a Sena leader.
Speaking about the presidential poll, the leader said that the Sena has made no commitments as of now. “Let us first know who the candidate is. We will declare our stand after that,” he said. According to other sources in the Sena, Mr. Modi’s visit with Mr. Thackeray is also to cool down heated relations between both the parties. “We do not have ideological differences with the BJP. We have been demanding respect from the other side which was given to us in this meeting,” he said.
‘Double standards’
The Opposition, however, did not leave the opportunity to target the Sena for its ‘double standards’. “Sena was never honest about its stand over the farm loan waiver.
Had it been honest, it would have stepped down from the State and Central governments without delay,” said Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.
