Mumbai, March 23 Shiv Sena-UBT legislator Anil Parab on Monday criticized the BJP-led Mahayuti government over the alleged assault of a minister during the election of the president and vice president of the Satara Zilla Parishad, which took place last week.
"If ministers and workers in this state are being beaten, what protection will you provide to ordinary citizens as a government?" he asked.
Parab targeted the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), saying: "Today, the Bharatiya Janata Party is crushing you, and you are afraid to even mention the BJP. Why did you revolt? You claimed that the NCP was crushing your self-respect, and that you were 'tigers'. Where is your self-respect now? Where is your rebellious spirit now?"
"The police beat you, and you remain silent. You consider yourselves to be tigers – where are those tigers now? You are sitting with your tails between your legs. Why do you only show aggression towards the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, but hide from the BJP? I have never seen such a situation in this House. If you resign today and give up power, we will see you in the same light as Bhagat Singh. Do you have the courage to leave power?" he added.
The remark about "sitting with your tails between your legs" sparked a sharp reaction from Shiv Sena Ministers Uday Samant and Shambhuraj Desai.
Minister Samant responded, "Anil Parab mentioned us 'sitting with our tails between our legs'. When we carried out our revolt and came to Mumbai, there were threats that our lives would be in danger, but we were not afraid. They said we would not be allowed to enter via Worli. They should not be teaching us about courage or 'sitting with our tails between our legs'."
Minister Shambhuraj Desai added: "Think back to the language used during our revolt – that our 'dead bodies would return' or that our 'guts would be removed'. Despite that, we came openly. We did not hide; we arrived, took a bus, and went straight to the Vidhan Bhavan. Do not try to provoke us regarding our courage."
Minister Samant added: "We have sought justice, and our ministers have appealed to you – that is political decorum. Those who lack such values are the ones who speak like this."
Earlier, Satara Guardian Minister Shambhuraj Desai narrated his ordeal, saying that despite his 40-year political career, he had never faced such treatment. He alleged that while escorting 33 members to the polling booth – following an alliance between the Shiv Sena and the NCP – they were intercepted by over 100 police personnel in plain clothes just 10 meters from the voting hall. The police reportedly acted on a "false complaint" of member abduction.
"I am a state minister, yet I was literally dragged by the police. I sustained serious injuries to my hand. If a minister is not safe, what is the state of law and order in the state?" he asked.
Meanwhile, Parab also raised the issue of a fraudulent 'Baba' (godman) allegedly deceiving people in Maharashtra. He noted how politicians have become entangled with such individuals involved in sexual assault and land grabbing from the poor.
While acknowledging that there are photographs of various political leaders with the individual, Parab emphasised his opposition to any financial links, vested interests, or involvement in criminal activities, including the use of political pressure through phone calls.