Team Thackeray Says Abu Azmi "BJP B Team", Adds Akhilesh Yadav Clarification
NDTV
Abu Azmi hit out at Shiv Sena (UBT) after a social media post by a Sena UBT leader on the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition
A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi said his party would exit the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray said he sometimes behaved like "BJP's B Team". The Sena (UBT) leader clarified that his comments don't refer to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. "Akhilesh ji is fighting... but here, they sometimes behave like BJP's B team. We have seen this before as well," he said.
Mr Azmi's announcement followed a social media post by a Sena UBT legislative council member known to be close to party chief Uddhav Thackeray. On December 6, which marked 32 years of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya, Sena (UBT) leader Milind Narvekar put up a social media post with a picture of the demolition and a quote by Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray: "I am proud of those who did this". The poster also had pictures of Uddhav Thackeray and his MLA son Aaditya Thackeray. Sena UBT also put out a newspaper ad to mark the day.
In a strong response, Mr Azmi told news agency PTI, "An advertisement was given by Shiv Sena (UBT) in a newspaper congratulating those who demolished Babri masjid. His (Uddhav Thackeray) aide has also posted on X hailing the demolition of the mosque. We are quitting the MVA. I am speaking to (Samajwadi Party president) Akhilesh Yadav."
