Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 22: Shiv Sena (UBT) launched a sharp critique against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, condemning his branding of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as an “Urban Naxal.” In a fiery editorial published in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece, the Thackeray-led faction accused Fadnavis of using the label to stifle dissent and discredit voices raising concerns about democracy and electoral integrity.

The remarks come after Rahul Gandhi, during a recent address, questioned the fairness of India's electoral process and referenced the youth uprising in Nepal that toppled a corrupt regime — drawing the ire of BJP leaders.

“Fadnavis’ statement reflects a deeply confused mindset. If Gandhi is being called an Urban Naxal for challenging the system, what does that make of our current foreign policy that cozies up to Maoist China?” the editorial questioned.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the BJP government of systematically branding dissenters as "Urban Naxals" to suppress opposition. The editorial warned that the democratic fabric of the country is under strain, with fear and intimidation tactics replacing open dialogue and constitutional values.

Taking a dig at the BJP’s ideological history, the piece said, “Those who were absent during the freedom struggle now label civil protests and mass movements as Naxalite conspiracies. If they had been around in 1942, they would have branded the Quit India and Non-Cooperation Movements as Urban Naxal uprisings.”

The editorial also mocked the BJP’s engagement with China, stating:

“Maoist ideology still dominates China, yet the Modi government engages with Beijing diplomatically and economically. Will the Prime Minister now accuse his own foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, of being a Maoist for talking to China?”

Criticizing the double standards in foreign and domestic policy, the Thackeray camp added that China – a communist state – strictly penalizes corruption and electoral malpractice, unlike in India, where such allegations are often dismissed or deflected.

The article drew parallels with the farmers’ protest, recalling how thousands camped at Delhi’s borders for months demanding the repeal of farm laws. “The government labeled protesting farmers as terrorists and Naxals then — so it’s not surprising that Fadnavis now sees protest against electoral malpractice as an Urban Naxal act,” the editorial said.

The Thackeray faction also took aim at economic inequality, accusing the Modi and Fadnavis governments of handing over national and state resources to a few favored corporates. “Maharashtra’s forests, land, and valuable public assets have been gifted to businessmen close to the BJP. When people rise against this concentration of wealth, they’re shut down with cries of ‘Urban Naxal’,” it alleged.

The editorial further pointed out the irony in how the BJP uses the Emergency era to attack the Congress, while forgetting that many anti-Emergency leaders — like Jayaprakash Narayan, George Fernandes, and Charan Singh — were once accused of revolutionary tactics themselves. “Should they also be called Urban Naxals now?” it asked.

Concluding with a warning, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said the government appears increasingly fearful of public unrest, especially from the youth. “The rulers seem more afraid of the people than the people are of the rulers. Is this the sign of a confident government — or one clinging to power through fear?” the editorial concluded.