Rahul Gandhi ‘speaking in the tongue of Pakistan’, says Eknath Shinde

The central theme of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s address at the Dussehra celebrations of his Shiv Sena was largely around flood-affected farmers and the assistance he extended to them. In his speech, Mr. Shinde criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “speaking in the tongue of Pakistan”. He suggested that the Shiv Sena (UBT) should have hosted their Dussehra Melava in Pakistan for criticising Operation Sindoor.

Mr. Shinde said Mr. Gandhi was speaking in the tongue of Pakistan, doubting the bravery of soldiers and asking how many Indian missiles and aircraft were shot down. “Is this your nationalism and patriotism? You have no ethical right to criticise us,” he said.

Mr. Shinde invoked undivided Shiv Sena founder Late Bal Thackeray’s ideology of 80% social work and 20% politics and said, “Farmers’ plight is huge, their homes are damaged, farmland is washed out, and animals drowned due to heavy downpour and floods in the State. Our Shiv Sainiks (party workers) went to help, cleaned houses, and provided a survival kit.” 

Dussehra melava is one of the annual events of Shiv Sena, hosted every year on the tenth day of the Navaratri festival in Mumbai, with party workers and ministers in attendance. Mr. Shinde praised Shiv Sainiks and criticised Shiv Sena (UBT), while addressing the crowd at the Nesco Centre in Mumbai’s Goregaon region. 

Taking potshots at his rival Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray, Mr. Shinde said, “I am not a person who wears creaseless clothes and goes around with a vanity van”. He called Mr. Thackeray’s visit to the flood-affected area a “courtesy” and asked Mr. Thackeray, “What right does he hold to criticise us, when he goes around empty-handed? Did you even take a biscuit packet? All you could see is our face on the food kit.”

The Dussehra rally sets the agenda for both the Senas. This time it is about the local elections, which are supposed to be held before January 2026 as per a court order. This time too, Mr. Shinde harped on development projects and dismissed the Shiv Sena (UBT)‘s campaign, calling it “deceitful”. 

Mr. Shinde dubbed Shiv Sena (UBT)‘s election campaign of Marathi Manoos a “repeat tape” and “untrustworthy”. He said they had thrown Marathi Manoos outside Mumbai and added, “Shiv Sena will bring Marathi Manoos back in Mumbai. We will implement SRA and MHADA housing projects.”

Asserting that only saffron should stand tall at all local bodies, including Zilla Parishad, Gram Panchayat, and Municipal Corporations, Mr. Shinde asked party workers not to worry about alliances or who is colluding with whom. Mr. Shinde was hinting towards the potential alliance of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT).

He called Uddhav Thackeray a “conspiracy chief” who neglects his own party cadres and said, “after this election, his influence won’t last long.”

During Melavas, both Senas routinely claim Bal Thackeray’s legacy. Mr. Shinde questioned, “Is this your Hindutva?” and said, “Gave up Bal Thackeray’s ideology for CM chair.”