Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies for passing the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Thackeray accused the government of attempting to take control of Waqf lands, questioning their real intentions behind the bill.
"It seems the government wants to take possession of Waqf land. It means you have an eye on those lands," Thackeray said. Drawing a controversial comparison, he likened the speeches made by NDA ministers, including Home Minister Amit Shah, to those of Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. "BJP Ministers, including Amit Shah, delivered speeches in favor of Muslims, which would even make Jinnah feel ashamed."
Thackeray raised questions about the BJP’s ideological stance, asking, "Is this bill against Muslims? If it is in their favor, has the BJP abandoned Hindutva?" He also targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for questioning the integrity of UBT Shiv Sena before the bill’s discussion in Parliament. "Don’t teach us Hindutva. In 1995, when Shiv Sena and BJP were in power, land was allotted to Muslim religious institutions, and now the same land has been given away for the bullet train project," he alleged.
Accusing the BJP of hypocrisy, Thackeray claimed that the bill was a ploy to seize Waqf land and hand it over to industrialist allies. "You are eyeing Waqf land, but temple trusts, churches, and gurudwaras also own land. Are you planning to take those too? This bill was brought in only to capture land. We strongly oppose this sham legislation," he declared.
Thackeray further challenged the BJP’s justification for the bill, asking, "What does the Waqf Amendment Bill have to do with Hindutva? How will Hindus benefit from this?" He did, however, acknowledge some positive aspects of the bill, stating that his party does not support blind opposition and calling for transparency in its implementation.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also alleged that the government introduced the Waqf Amendment Bill to divert attention from the recent US tariff issue. "The US has imposed higher import tariffs on Indian goods starting Wednesday. Former US President Donald Trump had warned India to lower import taxes on US-made goods, failing which similar tariffs would be imposed on Indian exports. Instead of addressing this economic crisis, the government has distracted the people with the Waqf Bill," he claimed.
Thackeray recalled how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had worked closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing to address national concerns. "Modi could have done something similar now and taken the country into confidence regarding the US tariffs. Instead, they are misleading the public," he added.
Eknath Shinde and BJP Leaders Hit Back
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly criticized Thackeray’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, accusing him of abandoning Hindutva and the principles of his father, Balasaheb Thackeray. "Under Rahul Gandhi’s influence, Uddhav Thackeray is echoing Jinnah’s rhetoric. By opposing this bill, he has turned his back on Hindutva and Balasaheb’s ideals, exposing his ideological confusion," Shinde remarked.
He further emphasized that Balasaheb Thackeray always distinguished between nationalist Muslims and anti-national elements, a principle that the BJP and Shiv Sena have upheld. "But now, Uddhav Thackeray is parroting Jinnah’s rhetoric under Rahul Gandhi’s influence," he said, sarcastically questioning if ‘UT’ now stands for ‘Use and Throw.’
Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule also slammed Thackeray, stating, "Uddhav Thackeray has abandoned the principles of Hindutva championed by Balasaheb Thackeray and embraced Congress ideology. This is yet another example of his political opportunism."
Bawankule accused Thackeray of appeasement politics ahead of the Mumbai municipal elections. "Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs voted against the Waqf Amendment Bill with an eye on specific communities for electoral gains. As a result, many Hindutva-minded Shiv Sena workers and Shiv Sainiks are considering leaving the party. Since yesterday, I have been receiving calls and messages from Shiv Sena workers expressing their disappointment with Thackeray’s stance. Some are even interested in joining the BJP," he revealed.
He further alleged that Thackeray and his MPs had insulted Maharashtra and the nation by opposing the bill. "People will not forgive Uddhav Thackeray for this betrayal. Many voters who supported his party’s candidates in the past now regret their decision. The public will ensure that Thackeray’s candidates do not win future elections," Bawankule added.
