India attained independence after the sacrifices of freedom fighters, and not by sprinkling “Gomutra” (cow urine), former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday.
Addressing a public meeting, here in Ratnagiri, Uddhav Thackeray said, “Did our country attain independence by sprinkling ‘gomutra’ (cow urine)? Did this happen that cow urine was sprinkled and we got freedom? This was not the case, freedom fighters sacrificed their lives then we got independence.”
He also hit out at the Election Commission of India over the decision of allotting ‘Shiv Sena’ name and ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol to the Shinde faction.
“The Election Commission has taken away Shiv Sena’s name and symbol, but it can’t take away the party from us. Tell the EC that if they don’t have cataract then come and see who is the real Shiv Sena. The party Shiv Sena was not founded by the father of the EC, it was founded by my father,” he said.
He accused the Shinde faction of “stealing” the ‘Bow and Arrow’ symbol.
“People should keep one thing in mind those who have stolen our ‘Bow-and-Arrow’ and then come to seek votes are thieves. You bring the ‘Bow and Arrow’, I will bring the torch. I will accept whatever the public decides. It is not the EC that will decide whether I want it or not,” he said.
He further added saying, “Kapil Sibal is fighting our case and he is worried for us. While arguing in the Supreme Court, he said that he is not worried about winning or losing the case, instead, he is worried about whether Democracy and Constitution will survive in the country or not.”
Uddhav Thackeray also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of “stealing” figures like Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Patel and Bala Saheb Thackeray.
“Sardar Patel banned RSS, but they (BJP) stole the name of Sardar Patel. Similarly, they stole Subhash Chandra Bose and did the same with Bala Saheb Thackeray. I challenge them to ask for votes in PM Modi’s name and not in the name of Shiv Sena and without Bala Saheb’s photo,” he said.
Earlier on February 17, in a major setback to the Uddhav Thackery faction of Shiv Sena, the Election Commission of India (ECI) allotted the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” to the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.