Shiv Sena leader and former MP Sanjay Nirupam stirred controversy on Friday with serious allegations against Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief. Nirupam claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs in the Lok Sabha were hesitant to vote against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill but eventually did so following repeated calls from Thackeray.
At a press conference in Mumbai, Nirupam stated, “Uddhav Thackeray called his MPs five times, pressuring them to vote against the bill. They only did so because of the party’s whip.” He added that calls were made to every Shiv Sena (UBT) MP except Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai. The party currently has 9 MPs in the Lok Sabha.
Nirupam went further to criticize Uddhav, sarcastically dubbing him “Muslim Hridaysamrat,” contrasting him with his father Bal Thackeray, known as “Hindu Hridaysamrat.” He claimed Uddhav’s stance on the bill showed a lack of ideological clarity and accused him of succumbing to pressure from minority organizations.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray defended his party’s opposition to the bill, calling the BJP’s approach “fraudulent” and accusing the ruling party of planning to snatch Waqf lands to hand them over to industrialists.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday and in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, secured 288 votes in favour and 232 against in the lower house, and 128 in favour with 95 against in the upper house.
The bill aims to reform the management of Waqf properties by enhancing transparency, improving coordination with local bodies, and safeguarding heritage sites, while ensuring stakeholders’ rights and promoting social welfare.
