'I feel Uddhav Thackeray needs a psychiatrist': Devendra Fadnavis responds to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's 'taint on Nagpur' remark

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday responded to Uddhav Thackeray's 'taint on Nagpur' jibe and said the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader needed a psychiatrist.

"I pity my old friend and today's political rival Uddhav Thackeray's thinking and behaviour. I feel he needs a psychiatrist. Perhaps this situation had a huge impact on him and hence, when a person speaks from such a mindset, one should not react on it. So I will not comment on him," Fadnavis said when reporters sought his reaction on Uddhav's remarks.



Addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Nagpur, which is the home turf of Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray had said the BJP leader was a “taint” on Nagpur as he had aligned with the NCP despite asserting that he would never do so.


Uddhav had also played an old audio clip of Fadnavis in which he had said he would never join hands with the NCP. He then took a swipe at Fadnavis saying the BJP leader's “no means yes”.

Uddhav's remarks have evoked very strong reactions from the BJP leaders of the state.

Leading the charge, Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who is also an MP from Nagpur, tweeted: "levelling personal allegations at such a low level does not suit the political culture of Maharashtra."


He said Thackeray can discuss the development works done by BJP when we are in power and when they (MVA) were in power.

Maharashtra BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule warned that if Uddhav Thackeray keeps insulting Devendra Fadnavis and Union home minister Amit Shah, it might trigger a law and order situation in the state.

Bawankule said Thackeray has “lost his mental balance” and should seek treatment for it.

Bawankule also called the Shiv Sena (UBT) president a “tainted former chief minister and a tainted person”.

The state BJP president dared Thackeray to insult Fadnavis again, saying they will teach him a lesson wherever he goes by staging ‘jode maro' (hit with footwear) protests.

“We will answer bricks with stones,” he said, adding that BJP won't be responsible for it.

Meanwhile, BJP workers in Nagpur held protests against Uddhav Thackeray and demanded that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief retract his comment.

BJP's Nagpur chief Pravin Datke said Thackeray has not only insulted their senior leader Fadnavis but also denigrated the people of the city.

(With inputs from agencies)