Uddhav Thackeray, President of Shiv Sena (UBT) and former Chief Minister, appealed to Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to protect democracy amidst ongoing unresolved cases involving his party and the Nationalist Congress Party. During a Dussehra rally, he criticized the BJP leadership, promised reforms, and vowed to restore justice, emphasizing accountability and unity against corruption.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made an impassioned plea to the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, on Saturday, urging him to intervene and safeguard democracy in the country.
Thackeray was alluding to the unresolved cases concerning the undivided Shiv Sena and the original Nationalist Congress Party, which split in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and have been awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court for the past few years. He made this appeal during his annual Dussehra Day Rally at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park in Dadar West.
Thackeray said,
“If you really want to go down in history, then now is the opportunity… there’s still time before you retire – save democracy, save democracy, save democracy. Just as you talk many things outside, do it inside (the SC), the whole nation is looking up to you. Please take a decision that would make the country proud of you,”
Recalling his frustrating experiences in the pursuit of justice, Uddhav Thackeray lamented, “We are tired of knocking at the doors of justice, but they are not opening up.” He emphasized that this was not merely an individual fight, but a struggle for the entire state. The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief pointed out that this might be the first instance in the world where three Chief Justices of India have completed their tenures, yet the Supreme Court has not been able to deliver justice for his party.
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He added,
“They were sent to the highest posts in a democracy, but they have not taken the required steps to save that very democracy that is in peril now. It’s a mockery of democracy. The temple of justice is supreme but the people of the country are my supreme court and we will seek justice from them,”
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Chief Justice of India’s home to perform a Pooja of Lord Ganesha during Ganeshotsav last month, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray remarked that there was nothing wrong with the act itself. “Do worship of Lord Ganesha as we all do,” he said. “But when you come to the temple of justice, you must ensure that you also make the Goddess of Justice feel proud,” he added, expressing his frustration over the prolonged legal delays.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief further stated that if the Chief Justice of India chooses to remain passive while democracy is being disrobed, “then I shall talk about you only after you retire, or I will get a knock on my head even before I reach home”.
During his massive Dussehra Day rally, Uddhav Thackeray also took aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on several issues.
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He questioned,
“Where is the old BJP? Today’s BJP has become a ‘hybrid’, full of traitors and thieves… they should feel ashamed to call themselves ‘Bharatiya’ and they have no regard for ‘Janata’ (masses). We shall not rest till we bury the BJP in the elections,”
While expressing his respect for Bhagwat, the RSS, and its activists, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader made it clear that his objections were directed at their policies.
He further added,
“Today, Bhagwat said that Hindus should unite to protect themselves… so what was the (BJP) government doing for the past 10 years? Why are Hindus still insecure in this country even after Modi was sworn-in thrice. You speak of Bangladesh but you didn’t notice what the BJP did to Maharashtra, how my government was toppled…We are fighting against this hypocritical Hindutva that discriminates among Hindus, divides them on caste lines and indulges in quotas favouritism,”
Accusing the MahaYuti of corruption in connection with the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which collapsed at Rajkot Fort (Sindhudurg) on August 26, just eight months after being inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi, Uddhav Thackeray vowed that when the Maha Vikas Aghadi government comes to power in the Assembly elections, it will build a temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji in every district of the state, and temples-cum-memorials in other states.
Thackeray also criticized the MahaYuti regime for depleting the coffers of both the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and the state government with its 1,600 recent decisions. He issued a stern warning to state and city bureaucrats regarding these actions.
He also cautioned,
“We shall carry out a full review of all the decisions taken by the Shinde government and cancel those that go against the state, and put them in jail… I want to make it clear to the bureaucracy to keep away from all this or I shall not hesitate to put such officers behind bars,”
Present at the rally were Leader of Opposition in the Council Ambadas Danve, Aditya Thackeray, Sushma Andhare, Arvind Sawant, and Priyanka Chopra, along with other elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and senior leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT). The event also saw the participation of women, youth, and party workers from across the state.
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