Mumbai: Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan drew sharp criticism Tuesday over his remarks that “reminiscences” of the late Congress chief Vilasrao Deshmukh “can be erased” from Latur, house metropolis of the previous chief minister, after the civic physique polls there on 15 January. 

The Congress mentioned the BJP chief’s remarks belittled a pacesetter who handed away years in the past, which is towards Hinduism. 

Including, “You bask in Hindutva politics, however there isn’t any place for such hatred in Hindu faith. That is taught in your RSS shakhas.” 

Deshmukh’s sons—actor Riteish and politicians Amit and Dhiraj—additionally slammed Chavan for the assertion, whereas senior BJP chief and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve swung into harm management mode, saying Chavan didn’t imply to be insulting. 

Chavan himself apologised to Deshmukh’s sons, however mentioned, “I’ve not criticised Vilasrao Deshmukh in my assertion, however the Congress is demanding votes within the identify of Vilasrao Deshmukh there (in Latur).” 

Chavan assumed workplace because the Maharashtra BJP president in July. He was Meals, Civil Provides and Public Works Minister from 2022 to 2024 within the earlier Eknath Shinde-led authorities within the state.

He made the assertion on Deshmukh at a BJP employees’ rally in Latur Monday night, whereas expressing confidence his occasion would win the civic polls there scheduled 15 January.

“To be sincere,” he informed the gathering, “seeing your enthusiasm immediately, I’m 100% certain that the reminiscences of Vilasrao (Deshmukh) can be erased from this metropolis, surely.”

This got here after he requested the occasion employees to lift their palms and chant slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, a outstanding Congress chief in Maharashtra, served because the state’s 14th chief minister, holding workplace from 18 October 1999 to 16 January 2003. Later, he once more served as chief minister between 1 November 2004 to five December 2008. 

Deshmukh hailed from Latur in Maharashtra’s Marathwada area.

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The condemnation  

Condemning Chavan’s feedback, Vilasrao Deshmukh’s elder son and Congress MLA Amit mentioned Monday that his father’s reminiscences can’t be erased just because an “outsider” comes and makes such statements in Latur.

“In my view, with the remarks by Ravindra Chavan, the query is the place politics is headed. It’s disappointing, he shouldn’t have mentioned it. This isn’t what Latur stands for, nor does Maharashtra. I condemn this assertion, and it’s being condemned by all, based on me,” the Latur metropolis MLA informed reporters Monday after his handle on the Congress-VBA “Prachar Sabha” (marketing campaign assembly) within the metropolis.

“The late CM Deshmukh touched the lives of each particular person in Latur, and his reminiscences are deeply etched within the hearts of the individuals,” he added. 

On Tuesday, the previous chief minister’s youthful son, actor Riteish Deshmukh, posted a brief video assertion on Instagram in Marathi in response to Chavan’s remarks.

“I say with each my palms folded that the names of those that lived for the persons are etched on their minds. What’s written could be erased, however you’ll be able to’t erase what’s etched,” Riteish says, with out naming Chavan.

Vilasrao Deshmukh’s different son and former MLA Dhiraj mentioned Chavan’s statements are “extraordinarily unlucky and heartbreaking”. He mentioned his father’s relationship with Latur is past the BJP’s comprehension. “We didn’t count on such a press release from him or from the BJP. This assertion has damage the emotions of all of us, the Latur residents. We condemn that assertion within the strongest phrases.” 

Former NCP chief and Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap, who’s now with the Congress, mentioned Chavan’s assertion “uncovered his sanskar (tradition)”, and the “masks of the BJP’s false Hindutva has come off immediately”.

“In our Hindu tradition, any deceased individual is taken into account worthy of worship. In Hinduism, Shraaddh and comparable rituals are carried out yearly to maintain the reminiscence of the deceased alive. Nevertheless, the BJP state president, who’s finishing up his political agenda by sporting the scarf of sacred Hindutva, goes to Latur and makes a press release that he’ll erase the reminiscences of the late Vilasrao Deshmukh perpetually,” he wrote in a publish on X.

Senior Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat mentioned Vilasrao Deshmukh was a son of Latur and the architect of recent Maharashtra.

“Regardless of what number of makes an attempt are made to erase his reminiscences, they’ll grow to be an increasing number of stable and unshakable within the minds of the individuals. The language of erasing the reminiscence of a pacesetter who has created a agency place within the minds of the individuals is an indication of the ideological chapter of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering,” he mentioned.

Chavan apologises, however strikes to ‘subsequent query’

In the meantime, Chavan mentioned he considers Deshmukh’s son Riteish a “pricey buddy”, and that his remarks weren’t politically motivated. 

“Vilasrao Deshmukh was an enormous chief and served as chief minister. But when the sentiments of his son, who is an effective buddy of mine, are damage, I apologise to him. The assertion shouldn’t be seen politically,” the BJP chief informed reporters right here,” he mentioned whereas talking to the media Tuesday after an election rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

“Civic facilities must be the main focus of those native physique elections. Who will handle these points in a sooner method is vital,” he added.  

When journalists requested if he would apologise to the individuals of Latur as nicely, Chavan merely mentioned, “Subsequent query.”

BJP chief and former Jalna MP Raosaheb Danve mentioned Chavan didn’t imply to insult the previous chief minister. “Ravindra Chavan’s intentions behind his comment on erasing Vilasrao Deshmukh’s reminiscences was that no matter Vilasrao Deshmukh did as regards to town’s growth and no matter he couldn’t do, the BJP will do extra and fulfil the expectations of the Laturkars,” he mentioned.

Including, “We won’t allow you to really feel like Vilasrao Deshmukh isn’t amongst us anymore or that if he was right here, our Latur would have carried out nicely. He (Chavan) meant that no matter was left to be carried out, can be carried out by us.”

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)

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