Fadnavis defends Eknath Shinde over ‘Jai Gujarat’ slogan; Sapkal calls it ‘political slavery’

Just due to the fact that Shinde said Jai Gujarat, it doesn’t mean that Shinde loves Gujarat much than Maharashtra, says Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar during the unveiling of a statue of Peshwa Bajirao, successful Pune connected July 4, 2025. @mieknathshinde connected X via PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis connected Friday defended Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde implicit the latter’s ‘Jai Gujarat’ remarks astatine an lawsuit successful Pune.

“Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Gujarat,” Shinde said astatine the event, wherever Union Minister Amit Shah was present. Shah addressed the gathering successful Gujarati language.

“Just due to the fact that Shinde said 'Jai Gujarat', it doesn’t mean that Shinde loves Gujarat much than Maharashtra,” Fadnavis told reporters. “Such a parochial reasoning doesn’t behove Marathi manoos,” helium added.

Fadnavis recalled that erstwhile a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was unveiled astatine Chikodi successful Karnataka, erstwhile Union Minister Sharad Pawar had said ‘Jai Maharashtra, Jai Karnataka.’ “Does this mean that Sharad Pawar loves Karnataka much and Maharashtra less?” Fadnavis asked.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress main Harshwardhan Sapkal sought Shinde’s resignation for exhibiting “political slavery” and betraying the state’s pride.

“Maharashtra is the onshore of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who stood for self-respect and sovereignty. It is simply a substance of shame that a person occupying the Deputy Chief Minister’s seat would chant ‘Jai Gujarat’ alternatively of ‘Jai Maharashtra’. This is thing but governmental slavery,” Sapkal said successful a statement.

After breaking the archetypal Shiv Sena and being rewarded with the party’s sanction and awesome by the powers successful Gujarat, Shinde has crossed each limits to delight his governmental masters, Sapkal further claimed.

“His slogan of ‘Jai Gujarat’ is not conscionable sycophancy, it is an insult to each arrogant Maharashtrian. Shinde’s actions amusement however profoundly entrenched Gujarat’s power has go successful Maharashtra authorities nether the existent regime,” Sapkal added.

Has Shinde forgotten that helium is Deputy CM of Maharashtra and not Gujarat, Sapkal said portion alleging that industries and projects were being diverted to the neighbouring authorities by the existent BJP-led regime.

“From Vedanta-Foxconn to respective different large projects, Maharashtra has suffered monolithic losses successful employment opportunities for its youth. Industries, firm offices, and thousands of crores successful concern are being shifted to Gujarat. This is happening nether Shinde and Fadnavis’ watch,” the Congress person claimed.

Citing rising unemployment, agrarian distress, and expanding crimes against women successful the state, Sapkal said the authorities should beryllium focusing connected these pressing issues alternatively of indulging successful “political flattery and determination appeasement”.

“There is nary spot successful the state’s enactment for those who compromise Maharashtra’s interests. Eknath Shinde indispensable resign immediately,” Sapkal demanded.