Mumbai, July 4 — Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday defended Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde after the latter sparked controversy by chanting “Jai Gujarat” alongside “Jai Hind” and “Jai Maharashtra” during an event in Pune attended by Union Minister Amit Shah.
“Just because Shinde said ‘Jai Gujarat’, it doesn’t mean that Shinde loves Gujarat more than Maharashtra,” Fadnavis told reporters, dismissing the criticism as narrow-minded. He recalled similar instances in the past, pointing out that former Union Minister Sharad Pawar had said “Jai Maharashtra, Jai Karnataka” during a statue unveiling in Karnataka. “Does this mean that Sharad Pawar loves Karnataka more and Maharashtra less?” he asked.
However, the Maharashtra Congress erupted in protest, accusing Shinde of “political slavery” and betraying Maharashtra’s pride. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal demanded Shinde’s resignation, calling the remark an insult to the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “This is nothing but political slavery,” Sapkal said, alleging that Shinde’s slogan reflects a deeper Gujarat influence on Maharashtra politics under the current BJP-led government.
Sapkal also claimed that under Shinde and Fadnavis, crucial industrial projects, including the Vedanta-Foxconn deal, have been shifted from Maharashtra to Gujarat, resulting in significant losses in jobs and investments. “There is no place in the state’s leadership for those who compromise Maharashtra’s interests,” he said.
The controversy highlights simmering regional sensitivities as political rhetoric heats up ahead of key elections, with opposition parties accusing the state government of prioritising political alliances over Maharashtra’s economic and cultural interests.
Fadnavis Defends Shinde’s ‘Jai Gujarat’ Remark Amid Congress Outrage in Maharashtra
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