Throwing down the ‘Hindutva’ gauntlet to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the ruling Shiv Sena, on its 56 th Foundation Day asserted that late Sena founder Bal Thackeray was the ‘Father of Hindutva’ even as party president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray censured the BJP-ruled Centre’s contentious ‘Agnipath’ scheme as a “mirage”.
Addressing Sena leaders and party workers in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray, in a pointed remark at the BJP, said it was futile taking Lord Ram’s name if there were no employment opportunities for the youth.
“Today, several youths have hit the streets in protest against the ‘Agnipath’ scheme Why are they so angry? Who provoked them? I have always said that if there is no work in hand then what is the point in only chanting ‘Ram Ram’,” Mr. Thackeray said, while chastising PM Modi for inaugurating temples and giving grants to religious establishments while the youth raged against the lack of employment opportunities.
