New Delhi: As the political row over Election Commission (EC) officials carrying out routine check of Shiv Sena (BT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s bags continues to rage, the BJP on Wednesday posted a video of airport security frisking Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ luggage.
The BJP pointed out “some leaders have the tendency to show off” and added that Fadnavis did not raise a hue and cry over the checking of his bags, unlike others.
What did BJP write on X?
Taking to X, the Maharashtra BJP wrote that on November 7, Fadnavis’ bags were checked at Yavatmal and on November 5, at Kolhapur, but he didn’t create a noise about it. It said that flaunting the Constitution and holding it in your hands is not enough; the Opposition bloc must translate ‘Save Constitution’ slogan into action.
जाऊ द्या, काही नेत्यांना तमाशा करण्याची सवयच असते!
हा व्हीडिओ पहा, 7 नोव्हेंबरला यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात आमचे नेते मा. देवेंद्रजी फडणवीस यांच्या बॅगची तपासणी झाली. पण, त्यांनी ना कोणता व्हीडिओ काढला, ना कोणती आगपाखड केली. तत्पूर्वी, 5 नोव्हेंबर रोजी कोल्हापूर विमानतळावर सुद्धा मा.… pic.twitter.com/ebkuigJE2E— भाजपा महाराष्ट्र (@BJP4Maharashtra) November 13, 2024
Earlier, on Tuesday, a video posted on social media showed Thackeray questioning the EC officials during his bag check. While allowing them to inspect his bags, he asked, “But did you search bags of Devendra Fadnavis, Narendra Modi, or Amit Shah?”
When an official said the BJP leaders are yet to campaign in the region, Thackeray told him to make sure he checked their bags whenever they do and send him a video as an evidence.
How Sanjay Raut responded
Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray and Rajya Sabha MP, said that there was no problem with the searches but they should be done “impartially”. He alleged: “Where Eknath Shinde and (Deputy Chief Ministers) Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis are contesting, Rs 25 crore have already reached…”
My bags were checked too: Devendra Fadnavis
Reacting sharply to Thackeray’s bag check row, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while campaigning for BJP candidate Sulabha Gaikwad in Kalyan, said that the Election Commission checks our bags too, but we do not make a fuss about it. He said his bags were checked when he went to Nanded and Kolhapur airports. “Why are you (Uddhav) making such a ado about it?” Fadnavis pointed out that since he can see his defeat, Thackeray has no issue left, and that’s why he is crying and asking for votes.
