Uddhav Thackeray said Amit Shah is the political descendent of Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan ruler who defeated Marathas at Panipat.

Pune: Hitting back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for calling him the head of the “Aurangzeb Fan Club”, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in “power jihad” by breaking political parties to form governments of their choice.

Going further, Uddhav Thackeray said Amit Shah is the political descendent of Ahmad Shah Abdali, an Afghan ruler who defeated Marathas in the third battle of Panipat. Taking a jibe at prime minister Narendra Modi, Thackeray said those who went to Pakistan to eat birthday cake of the nation’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should not teach Hindutva.

“A few days ago, the political heir of Ahmad Shah Abdali had come to Pune. Who is he? He was Amit Shah. He said Sena has given up Hindutva. Why should we give up Hindutva? Those who went all the way to Pakistan to eat the birthday cake of its Prime Minister, should not teach us what Hindutva is,” Thackeray said at the “Shiv Sankalp” rally in Pune.

He further said, “If Shah is going to associate me with Aurangzeb fan club and Aurangzeb, then I will also not stop from calling him Ahmad Shah Abdali.” Attacking the BJP, Thackeray accused the former ally of breaking parties, a reference to the split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

“If Muslims are with us after we explain to them our Hindutva, then we are (according to the BJP) the Aurangzeb Fan Club. Then what you are doing is power jihad,” said Thackeray while addressing party workers in Pune.

He also castigated Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde over the “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin” scheme and accused it of bribing voters by giving “revdis” (freebies).

Amit Shah had a few days back dubbed Thackeray “the head of the Aurangzeb fan club” and criticised him for sitting with people who sought pardon for 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon.

“Maha Vikas Aghadi is Aurangzeb fan club. This Aurangzeb fan club cannot ensure India’s security. Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of this Aurangzeb Fan club. Uddhav Thackeray shares his meals with people involved with Kasab, he supports PFI and stands against renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar,” Shah had said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also touched upon the sensitive and emotional issue of fighting for the party name and symbol.

(With PTI inputs)