NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday launched a blistering attack at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill , accusing him of straying from Hindutva and Balasaheb Thackeray 's ideology.
Speaking to the media, Shinde described the opposition to the bill as the "biggest crime."
"By opposing this, UBT has revealed its true face. It has been proven that they have completely abandoned Hindutva and the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. This is extremely unfortunate. It is a bigger crime than the betrayal in 2019 when he (Uddhav Thackeray) formed a government with Congress , forsaking Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology," Shinde said.
He further criticised Thackeray’s leadership, calling him "confused" and suggesting it was putting the party’s future in jeopardy.
"Uddhav Thackeray is completely confused. He doesn't even know what decisions to take. When leadership becomes like this, the future of the party is also in darkness," he added.
Shinde defended the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, saying it aims to break the monopoly over Waqf properties and alleging that Congress seeks to keep the poor in poverty.
"The Waqf Board was in the hands of a handful of people, but now, with the bill introduced by Modi ji, their dominance will end. This will provide an opportunity for women and children to come into the mainstream. It will benefit the poor sections of the Muslim community, but Congress wants to keep Muslims poor for the sake of votes," he claimed.
Earlier in the day, Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the BJP-led Union government, calling it "all show, no substance." He reaffirmed his party’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, as well as what he called the BJP’s hypocrisy and its alleged plans to hand over land to business interests.
"There are some corrections (for the Waqf board) in the Waqf amendment bill, which are good. However, the experience with the BJP till now is that yanche dakhwayeche daant ani khayeche daant vegde ahe (all show, no substance). We supported them during the repeal of Article 370... But I want to ask, did the Kashmiri Pandits get their land? We not only opposed the bill but also the hypocrisy and corruption of the BJP and its plans to give land to its businessmen friends," former Maharashtra CM Thackeray said at a press conference.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after an extended and heated debate, with INDIA bloc members opposing it while BJP and its allies backed the legislation. The session continued past midnight before Speaker Om Birla announced the results of the division vote.
"Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal," Birla said.
The revised bill, incorporating recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee, seeks to amend the 1995 Act to improve the administration of Waqf properties, enhance efficiency, streamline registration, and integrate technology into record-keeping.
Meanwhile, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju moved a motion in the Rajya Sabha for consideration of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Musalmaan Wakf (Repeal) Bill.
Speaking to the media, Shinde described the opposition to the bill as the "biggest crime."
"By opposing this, UBT has revealed its true face. It has been proven that they have completely abandoned Hindutva and the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray. This is extremely unfortunate. It is a bigger crime than the betrayal in 2019 when he (Uddhav Thackeray) formed a government with Congress , forsaking Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology," Shinde said.
He further criticised Thackeray’s leadership, calling him "confused" and suggesting it was putting the party’s future in jeopardy.
"Uddhav Thackeray is completely confused. He doesn't even know what decisions to take. When leadership becomes like this, the future of the party is also in darkness," he added.
Shinde defended the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, saying it aims to break the monopoly over Waqf properties and alleging that Congress seeks to keep the poor in poverty.
"The Waqf Board was in the hands of a handful of people, but now, with the bill introduced by Modi ji, their dominance will end. This will provide an opportunity for women and children to come into the mainstream. It will benefit the poor sections of the Muslim community, but Congress wants to keep Muslims poor for the sake of votes," he claimed.
Earlier in the day, Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the BJP-led Union government, calling it "all show, no substance." He reaffirmed his party’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, as well as what he called the BJP’s hypocrisy and its alleged plans to hand over land to business interests.
"There are some corrections (for the Waqf board) in the Waqf amendment bill, which are good. However, the experience with the BJP till now is that yanche dakhwayeche daant ani khayeche daant vegde ahe (all show, no substance). We supported them during the repeal of Article 370... But I want to ask, did the Kashmiri Pandits get their land? We not only opposed the bill but also the hypocrisy and corruption of the BJP and its plans to give land to its businessmen friends," former Maharashtra CM Thackeray said at a press conference.
The Lok Sabha passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 after an extended and heated debate, with INDIA bloc members opposing it while BJP and its allies backed the legislation. The session continued past midnight before Speaker Om Birla announced the results of the division vote.
"Subject to correction, Ayes 288, Noes 232. The majority is in favour of the proposal," Birla said.
The revised bill, incorporating recommendations from the Joint Parliamentary Committee, seeks to amend the 1995 Act to improve the administration of Waqf properties, enhance efficiency, streamline registration, and integrate technology into record-keeping.
Meanwhile, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju moved a motion in the Rajya Sabha for consideration of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Musalmaan Wakf (Repeal) Bill.
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