Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hit out at the BJP over its “drama of nationalism and fake Hindutva”. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday (November 28, 2025) said his party MPs will chant Vande Mataram in Parliament, and dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to suspend them.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister made the statement four days after the Rajya Sabha Secretariat issued a memorandum reminding members to refrain from chanting slogans, including ‘Thanks’, ‘Thank You’, ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Bande Mataram’, in the House, citing these as a breach of parliamentary etiquette.
The Opposition Congress also attacked the BJP over the issue and accused the party, which leads the ruling alliances at the Centre and in Maharashtra, of practising “sham nationalism”.
Addressing mediapersons in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray said, “Our MPs will continue to recite Vande Mataram in Parliament. If the BJP has courage, it should suspend them. When we were with the BJP, we used to say ‘Is desh mein rehna hoga to Vande Mataram kehna hoga (Those who wish to stay in India must chant Vande Mataram)’.” He went on to hit out at the BJP over its “drama of nationalism and fake Hindutva”.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant also accused the BJP of “weaponising the National Song to promote its polarisation agenda” by targeting representatives from the minority community.
“Those who lacked the courage to say Vande Mataram during British rule have now imposed a ban on it. This shows BJP’s hypocrisy and sham nationalism,” the Congress leader posted on X.
‘Poor civic planning’
The former Chief Minister also criticised the BJP-led Mahayuti government over its decision to cut trees in Nashik’s Tapovan area to clear space for the construction of quarters to house saints for the Kumbh Mela in 2027.
Tapovan is believed to be the place where Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spent a part of their 14-year exile.
“No inconvenience should be caused to the saints, but for that, the government needs to plan and be transparent. So far, why has no Guardian Minister been appointed?” said Mr. Thackeray.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also took on the State government over rising pollution in Mumbai, attributing it to deforestation of the Aarey forests.
“We stopped the Aarey Metro car shed project during my tenure. However, the Aarey forests were cut down, and pollution is now increasing. The development [supervised by the ruling Mahayuti] has zero planning and is only meant to benefit contractors,” he added.
Published – November 29, 2025 02:15 am IST
