Maharashtra: Fadnavis' wife Amruta calls Sena 'hypocrite', Priyanka Chaturvedi replies
What's the story
Erstwhile allies, and now feuding parties, Shiv Sena and BJP are leaving no chance to slam one another publicly. The latest one to hop on this bandwagon is Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Amruta called Sena a "hypocrite", only to get a scathing reply from its leader Priyanka Chaturvedi. But what prompted this war of words? Let's tell you.
What happened
Report on Sena sanctioned tree felling prompted Amruta's reaction
The verbal battle started after Amruta tweeted a newspaper report, which claimed Sena was planning to chop nearly 1,000 trees in Aurangabad for a memorial of Bal Thackeray. Since Sena staunchly opposed the felling of Aarey forest for the construction of Metro Line 3 car shed in Mumbai, this news report didn't sit well with many. Amruta also tweeted about the same.
Twitter Post
Hypocrisy is a disease, tweeted Amruta
‘Hypocrisy is a disease ! Get well soon @ShivSena ‘ ! Tree cutting - at ur convenience or allowing tree cutting only when you earn commission - unpardonable sins !! pic.twitter.com/7f68PWPIbA
— AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) December 8, 2019
Reply
Subsequently, Priyanka told Amruta lying compulsively is a "bigger disease"
Re-tweeting Amruta's words, Priyanka said not a single tree would be cut. She said lying compulsively is a "bigger disease" and hoped BJP gets "well soon". She highlighted the fact that Aurangabad Mayor Nandkumar Ghodele has also dismissed the reports. "Ma'am, sorry to disappoint you but the truth is that not a single tree will be cut for the memorial," her reply read.
Twitter Post
Even the mayor said trees will be left alone
“There has been talks circulating that we are going to cut trees to build a memorial for HinduHriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray. As a Mayor, I would like to clarify — we are going to ensure that no trees are cut for the construction of the memorial.
— Shivsena Communication (@ShivsenaComms) December 8, 2019
-Mayor Nandkumar Ghodele pic.twitter.com/IANbWWpc7F
Looking back
In October, Sena slammed BJP in its mouthpiece over Aarey
To recall, Sena had slammed BJP in October for approving the cutting of trees in the Aarey colony. In its mouthpiece Saamana, Sena noted, "Trees don't have the right to vote, so the order should be given to 'murder' them. What kind of justice is this?" The party also asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Fadnavis weren't worried about the greens.
What he did
Earlier, Uddhav stopped work on Metro shed, "saving" Aarey
Notably, Uddhav Thackeray, after taking charge as Maharashtra's CM, passed an order to stay work on Metro car shed. "Metro work will not stop but till next decision, not a single leaf of Aarey will be cut," the Sena boss said last month, earning lauds from activists. Not only this but Thackeray also said he would withdraw cases against 29 Aarey activists.