‘Every daughter-in-law is my beloved sister': Deputy CM Eknath Shinde launches ‘Dowry-Free Maharashtra' campaign

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Thursday announced the launch of the 'Dowry-Free Maharashtra' campaign under the Shiv Sena Mahila Aghadi, the party's women's wing, to 'ensure those who harass our sisters are dealt with firmly'.
Shinde formally launched the anti-dowry drive, and unveiled the campaign's official logo during the Shiv Sena's 59th Foundation Day event held in Worli.
The deputy CM said the Shiv Sena Mahila Aghadi will implement the Dowry-Free Maharashtra campaign across the state.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of the death of Vaishnavi Hagawane in Pune, allegedly due to dowry harassment.
According to the police, Vaishnavi Hagawane allegedly died by suicide at her in-laws' house in the Pune district on May 16.
Shinde said that after Hagawane's death, the entire state of Maharashtra was shaken.
'From now on, every daughter-in-law of Maharashtra is my beloved sister. The campaign will kick start from Anand Ashram in Thane, and will be expanded across the state through the Sena shakhas. Every Sena shakha will now be the first maternal home for our beloved daughters-in-law who are facing dowry-related harassment. Our Mahila Aghadi will ensure those who harass our sisters are dealt with firmly,' Shinde said.
He said that to prevent dowry-related deaths, the Sena's women's wing will reach every corner of Maharashtra, and fight for the rights of women who are being harassed for dowry.
It will provide legal support, drive public awareness, and deliver justice for dowry‑harassed women.
The NCP (SP), led by party MP Supriya Sule, has also launched a statewide anti‑dowry campaign called 'Dowry‑Free, Violence‑Free Maharashtra.'
It's set to begin Sunday, June 22, and run for a full year, aiming to cultivate cross-party unity and lasting awareness against dowry and harassment of women.

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Indian Express

an hour ago

• Indian Express

As Uddhav holds out hope for alliance with MNS, why Raj Thackeray is maintaining radio silence

A week after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray held a quiet, closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on June 12 that raised questions about the possibility of an alliance between the two, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has yet again signalled his eagerness to join hands with his cousin. The MNS chief, who initially signalled that he was open to an alliance with the Sena (UBT), however, has remained quiet, and his party leaders have also been dismissive about the prospects of a tie-up. While reiterating that he will do what is 'in the minds of the people of Maharashtra and the Sena cadre', Uddhav said Thursday, 'We are capable of resolving the issues between us, others need not worry about it.' Referring to the meeting between his cousin and the CM, Uddhav accused the BJP of attempting to 'thwart the reunion of the two brothers' since it knows the possible 'repercussions' of such an alliance for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. Over the past two months, since Raj sent the first signal of rapprochement to Uddhav on April 19, several Sena (UBT) leaders, including the party chief, his son Aaditya, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, have consistently expressed their willingness to ally with the MNS. Projecting it as a coming together of the 'Marathi manoos' for the larger good of the state, Sena (UBT) leveraged speeches, posters, and its mouthpiece Saamana to build public momentum for reconciliation. The theme has been clear: identity, legacy, and the Marathi cause. On June 6, Uddhav himself hinted at positive talks for an alliance. 'There is no confusion in my mind or in the minds of my party workers. Even MNS workers are in touch with us,' he said. 'What is in the hearts of the people of Maharashtra – that will happen.' The next day, the Sena (UBT)'s mouthpiece too published an archived photo of the two cousins on its front page – a rare symbolic move not seen in the past 20 years. Posters put up in Mumbai, Thane and other parts of the state called for a united Thackeray front 'to save the Marathi manoos from outsiders.' The Sena (UBT) poured symbolism and sentiment into its campaign, reviving old photos, invoking Marathi unity, and publicly expressing a willingness to sacrifice ego for the state. But the response from the MNS leadership in the past two months has remained cautious, and sometimes even dismissive. Raj has mostly remained behind the scenes, holding internal meetings and saying little directly to the media. He has not even commented publicly since his April 19 appearance on a podcast with filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar, where he said, 'The interest of Maharashtra is bigger than personal disagreements.' This was immediately followed up by Uddhav who, without naming his cousin, said, 'If necessary, we are ready to come together for Maharashtra, for Marathi people and the Marathi language.' What followed was a string of coordinated messaging from the Sena (UBT) leadership and workers urging the two brothers to come together, including by Raut who said on April 22 that Uddhav was 'very positive' on the idea of a tie-up. Even Aaditya Thackeray echoed this approach, stating multiple times throughout May that anyone with 'clean intentions' for Maharashtra and opposing 'anti-Maharashtra BJP' forces was welcome. Behind the Sena (UBT)'s constant outreach is its desire to prevent a fragmentation of the Marathi vote, now split three ways among Sena (UBT), Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and MNS, with the BJP well-positioned to gain from this in the elections for the BMC, historically considered a Sena bastion. A united Thackeray front could have consolidated the Marathi voter across at least 10 major urban bodies. Now, the BJP-Shinde combine enters the contest facing a divided Opposition, with the MNS likely to be either a tactical ally or a disruptive wildcard. The MNS, however, has maintained distance, often dismissing the idea of an alliance, immediately after Raj's statement. On April 20, MNS leader and Mumbai party chief Sandeep Deshpande clarified that issue-based unity differs from electoral tie-ups, saying, 'Marathis can also come together for issues of interest to Maharashtra' and that alliance for elections is a 'narrow-minded idea'. The message was clear: unity on issues, not necessarily seats and polls. Three days later, he said the Sena (UBT) would have to make a formal proposal if it wanted an alliance. Past overtures by the MNS were met with 'betrayal', he added. Raj's son Amit Thackeray said on June 5 that in 2014, 2017, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, his father had made the first move by calling Uddhav, but there was no response. The following day, despite Uddhav's positive statements on an alliance that same day, MNS leaders Deshpande and Thane district party chief Avinash Jadhav firmly denied receiving any formal proposal. 'Alliances don't happen before cameras; decisions follow offers… There was no positive response from (Uddhav's) end in the past. So this time, we will be cautious. Sanjay Raut should ask Uddhav to directly call Raj – he will get a positive response,' the leaders said. On Friday, Deshpande pushed back further, questioning the timing of the Sena (UBT)'s overtures. 'How come suddenly the Sena (UBT) has become so positive for an alliance? Four months ago, they were taking objections over the MNS using photos of Bal Thackeray. Is it just because of their political situation? Is it because they managed to win just 20 seats in the Assembly polls? Had they won 60 seats, would they have been so enthusiastic?' Deshpande said. The idea of a Thackeray reunion appeals to a sizeable section of Marathi voters who are nostalgic for the undivided Shiv Sena. But for now, until a direct conversation takes place between Uddhav and Raj, the alliance remains more a matter of speculation than strategy. According to MNS insiders, behind the emotional appeals lies a clear motive for the Sena (UBT). After losing its symbol to Eknath Shinde's party after the split in 2022 and the debacle in 2024 Assembly polls, the Sena (UBT) is now working to shore up its urban Marathi base — especially in Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, and parts of Pune where the MNS's influence still resonates — ahead of the pending local body elections. Party insiders say there are other concerns for Raj: any alliance risks painting the MNS as the 'younger brother' or 'junior partner', making it secondary both in perception and seat sharing. 'The Sena (UBT) wants us for our vote base, but they won't give us space. Why would Raj walk into that trap?' an MNS leader said. Data for the most recent municipal corporation elections held between 2014 and 2019, however, shows that the MNS has limited presence in civic bodies. The MNS, contesting across 21 of the 27 corporations, won just 26 out of a total 2,736 seats with an overall vote share of 3.56%. In the previous set of municipal corporation elections from 2009 to 2014, the MNS won 162 of the total 2,543 seats, securing an overall vote share of 12.43%. Ideological discomfort is also playing a role. The MNS, which has leaned sharply towards Hindutva in the past five years, finds little resonance with Sena (UBT)'s current INDIA bloc allies, the Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar). 'The MNS has always fought to maintain its independent identity,' another senior leader explained. 'If we ally with Uddhav, he gains legitimacy and numbers. What do we get?' As far as an alliance with the BJP goes, the BJP sees a clear advantage in bringing the MNS into the ruling Mahayuti, especially in urban pockets where the regional outfit holds sway among the Marathi youth. The party's firm stances on illegal migrants, loudspeakers, and cultural assertion make it a natural fit for the BJP's urban Hindutva strategy. For Raj, the deal is transactional, not ideological, offering visibility, leverage, and resources, without surrendering political independence.

The Print

3 hours ago

• The Print

Shinde & Thackeray revive Shiv Sena's classic ‘Marathi manus, sons of soil' pitch ahead of BMC polls

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, addressing party workers at NSCI Dome in Mumbai's Worli, hit back saying the Marathi population was compelled to go out of Mumbai because of 'those who are only remembering the Marathi manus now.' Speaking at the Shanmukhananda auditorium in Sion, Mumbai, Thackeray who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated once again that he is open to reuniting with his estranged brother Raj Thackeray, for the civic body polls without putting it in as many words. He said he is willing to 'do whatever the people of Maharashtra want' to protect the interests of Mumbai, Marathi and Maharashtra. Mumbai: Celebrating Shiv Sena's foundation day Thursday, both Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray sounded the battle cry for Mumbai's civic body, each returning to the party's roots—the Marathi manus, son of the soil. 'It is because you couldn't do anything, Mumbai's Marathi manus were driven out of Mumbai to places like Nalasopara, Badlapur, Vasai, Virar. This is your sin. Over the past 20 years, who ruled Mumbai? Everyone knows,' Shinde said, speaking at the event. Thackeray at his rally said, 'These people don't want Marathi people to come together, that's why they are paying frequent visits.' Thackeray was indirectly taunting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde who have had meetings with Raj Thackeray, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), ever since talks about the two Thackeray cousins reuniting picked up steam. 'Whether it (the alliance with Raj Thackeray) will happen or not, we will see. You shouldn't bother about it,' added Uddhav Thackeray further alleged that the ruling Mahayuti does not want the Shiv Sena (UBT) to come to power in the Mumbai civic body so that it can continue to protect the interests of the Adani Group. 'You don't have money to give for the Ladki Bahin scheme, for state transport buses, but in Dharavi, stamp duty has been waived for the Adani Group. Where did you get that money from? Everything is free for Adani,' Thackeray said. The Adani Group is redeveloping the Dharavi slum cluster. 'This is not just our fight. In 1960, martyrs shed their blood to ensure we get Mumbai. We will not let that go to waste and let anyone finish the importance of Mumbai,' Thackeray added. Elections to all local bodies in Maharashtra are expected to be held late this year. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which the undivided Shiv Sena had ruled for 25 years till 2022, will also go to polls. The term of the general body lapsed in March 2022 and fresh elections are yet to be held. The Shiv Sena split in June 2022. The battle for the Mumbai civic body is a high-stakes one—for several reasons. The BJP has been aggressively trying to wrest control of the country's richest municipal corporation from the Thackerays, while the Shinde-led Sena is on a mission to prove itself the real Shiv Sena and show that the Thackeray brand's supposed appeal in Mumbai is a thing of the past. For the Shiv Sena (UBT), winning Mumbai is key to the immediate survival of his party especially after its debilitating defeat in the state assembly polls. Hitting back at Uddhav, Shinde said the Shiv Sena (UBT) was looking at Mumbai as a golden goose. 'Their heart is in the coffers of Mumbai. Those who stayed in power (in the Mumbai civic body) for so many years and broke the city's treasury are now remembering Mumbai…Mumbai will continue to stay with Maharashtra. Nobody can break Mumbai from Maharashtra,' Shinde said. The BJP is currently in an alliance—Mahayuti—with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), ruling the Maharashtra government. Leaders from the BJP, as well as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, have informally said that while the three parties will decide whether to have an alliance for each local body poll separately depending on the desires of the ground cadre in that region, the Mahayuti is most likely to fight the BMC election together. On Thursday, Shinde was less than subtle about his ambition of dislodging the Thackerays from the BMC. His party members presented him with a small replica of the BMC headquarters, saying the Mahayuti will rule this edifice post-election. The Deputy CM, at his event, paid tribute to former CM Manohar Joshi, known to have his fair share of differences with Uddhav. Shinde also felicitated Joshi's son, Unmesh, during his party's celebration of Shiv Sena's foundation day. Also read: 4 dead, 32 injured in bridge collapse over Indrayani River near Pune, 10-15 people feared swept away 'Come on, kill me'—Uddhav Thackeray Galvanising the crowd in front of him, Thackeray Thursday borrowed a dialogue from a 1990 Nana Patekar-starrer film, Prahar. 'I am standing here. Come on, kill me,' he urged the BJP and Shinde. 'But, when you come, bring an ambulance along since you will come walking, but will have to go back injured.' Shinde, who delivered his speech at the NSCI dome well after Thackeray had wrapped up his speech, said, 'How can we kill someone who is already dead? People of the state have already finished them in the assembly polls.' The Shiv Sena (UBT) won just 20 of the 288 assembly seats in the Maharashtra assembly election last year, while the Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 seats. 'I will share a little math with you,' Shinde told his party workers, elaborating how the undivided Shiv Sena's strike rate was 22 percent in 2014, 45 percent in 2019, and in 2024, while Shinde's party contested 80 seats, winning 57, the Shiv Sena (UNT) contested 85, winning just 20. 'This means their strike rate was just 23 percent. They did not get even one-third the votes that our Shiv Sena got,' Shinde said The Deputy CM said his party will contest the upcoming local body polls as an alliance with Mahayuti partners, but said that the details will be shared at a later stage. Shinde, however, stayed away from commenting on a possible Raj-Uddhav alliance. Hindi imposition Speaking at Shanmukhananda, Thackeray dove into the debate over the Modi government's proposed three-language policy and the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students in all Marathi- and English-medium schools starting from the first standard. As per the state's government resolution, Hindi will be the default choice for the third language unless 20 students or more come together and demand a different third language. Speaking on the issue, Thackeray said it was a ploy to divide the state's population. 'They created a divide among Hindus over caste and now they want to divide Marathi vs non-Marathi so that we will fight among us. They want to divert attention from the real news,' Thackeray said. 'They want to impose Hindi, we won't let it be imposed. We are not against Hindi, but I will not allow compulsory Hindi in primary education,' Thackeray said, asking whether Hindi has been imposed in Gujarat. His estranged cousin, Raj Thackeray, has also raised strong opposition to making Hindi compulsory for primary schools as a default third language. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Rakhi gift before polls, now strain on coffers, how Mahayuti's Ladki Bahin scheme has undergone a squeeze

NDTV

4 hours ago

• NDTV

Uddhav Plans Party Dinner To Keep Flock Together Ahead Of Key Polls

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to host a dinner for party MPs and MLAs in Bandra on Friday, in what is perceived as a strategic move to keep the flock together ahead of the crucial elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai and civic bodies across the state. Several party leaders have quit and switched over to the Shiv Sena ahead of the local bodies poll in the state. The dinner at Taj Lands End Hotel, which will include party office bearers, also assumes significance amid speculation over a possible patch-up between Uddhav and his brother, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Sources said Uddhav wants to take into confidence his public representatives and office bearers before making any proposal to the MNS for an alliance. A meeting of all district heads is also supposed to take place at Sena Bhavan during the day. While addressing the 59th foundation day of the Shiv Sena on Thursday, Uddhav attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ally, the Shiv Sena, saying: "What people want will happen. We will see how it is to be done. The BJP and Shinde Sena do not want Marathi parties to unite. If you try to finish the Thackeray brand, we will finish off the BJP." At a recent meeting at Matoshree, Uddhav had sought the opinion of all former corporators on a possible alliance with the MNS. He said he will not go ahead with the alliance without the former corporators' nod. Sources said all the former corporators supported the idea and said it was the right time to join hands with the MNS. More than 50% of the former corporators of undivided Shiv Sena, who won in the 2017 BMC polls, have already shifted loyalties to the Eknath Shinde camp. So, the meeting with the former corporators is seen as an attempt to avoid further defections.