Mumbai, Oct 13: Former Shiv Sena-UBT leader Anand Dubey on Tuesday urged the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to pursue what he called positive politics, support Indian industrialists over foreign entrepreneurs and publicly congratulate Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery.

Speaking to media, Dubey said the Congress was an old party with sufficient resources to support its workers, but Rahul Gandhi should also focus on constructive politics.

“You (Rahul Gandhi) are one of the leading Opposition leaders; you should engage in positive politics. Please do not choose Elon Musk; please choose Indian industrialists,” the former Shiv Sena-UBT leader said, adding that keeping the country’s money within India would demonstrate commitment to the nation.

He also called on Rahul Gandhi to congratulate Captain Smit Machchhar, whom he described as a national hero.

“If your (Rahul Gandhi’s) conscience is awake, it is not too late to congratulate Captain Smit Machchhar. If you can do it, the nation will stand with you,” he said, adding that such a gesture would demonstrate Rahul Gandhi’s commitment to Indian politics.

Dubey said India, with a population of around 147 crore, had established itself as a country that could engage with major powers, including China, Russia and the United States, and see eye to eye with them.

The former Shiv Sena-UBT leader also shed light on his resignation from the party and said, “I was keen on politics since my college days. I worked for the Youth Congress for 14-15 years. However, I always listened to Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. I considered Swami Vivekanand as my idol; Bhagat Singh and Rajguru are my idols. I have grown up adhering to the values of Chatrapati Maharaj; thus, Shiv Sena became very dear.”

Dubey said he joined the Shiv Sena in 2019, when it was aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but became increasingly uncomfortable as the party moved closer to the Congress.

Despite his reservations over the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition’s breakdown in 2022, he noted that he continued working as a spokesperson and political debater, articulating the party’s position.

Dubey said he eventually decided to resign because he disagreed with the Shiv Sena-UBT’s political direction, including what he described as its failure to uphold the legacy of Hindutva idealogue Veer Savarkar.

“When I saw that leaders of my party (Shiv Sena-UBT) are going at Coackroach Janta Party’s platform, supporting them, following Congress, and are not talking in the lines of Veer Savarkar or, for that matter, not praising the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his bravery, who saved so many lives, and in lieu of that supporting insects like ‘Cockroaches’, I thought I should resign,” he added.

Dubey said he believed Balasaheb Thackeray would have blessed his decision, describing himself as a Shiv Sainik, a devotee of Lord Ram, a Sanatani and a right-winger.

He added that he could not support a political position that, in his view, treated Lord Shiva and Lord Ram as separate.

Mumbai, Oct 13: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) continued its investigation into suspicious activities linked to a WhatsApp group for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, conducting raids at five locations across the state and questioning several individuals, sources said.

During the investigation, the agency uncovered an international WhatsApp group comprising members from several countries, including Pakistan and Gulf nations.

The ATS is examining the activities of the group and the nature of the discussions taking place among its members to determine whether there are any links to suspicious activities, officials said.

Earlier on Monday, the Maharashtra ATS questioned a teacher residing in Rajapur in Ratnagiri district for several hours in connection with the case.

The teacher was released after the questioning, while the investigation continued into the WhatsApp group that reportedly included members from different countries, officials said.

According to the information received by the investigating agency, the group also had individuals associated with religious organisations as members.

Religious topics were reportedly discussed in the group, prompting the agency to examine the nature of these conversations and the possible activities of those participating in them.

The ATS suspects that the WhatsApp group could potentially have links to the terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. However, no concrete information or evidence has emerged so far to establish a connection between the group and the outfit.

The suspected link remains under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as the agency examines the available information.

The agency is seeking to determine the identities of those associated with the WhatsApp group and understand the nature of their interactions.

Investigation into the case is currently underway, according to the officials.

Mumbai, Oct 13: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday said that those speaking against the country or engaging in activities he described as treasonous should be jailed, not merely have FIRs filed against them, as he accused the Opposition of attempting to create unrest and undermine the country’s progress.

Speaking to media, Shinde described Monday as a “black day” in the country’s history, alleging that democracy and the Supreme Court had been disrespected by the Opposition’s protest march against the country’s highest judicial institution.

“Yesterday will be remembered as a black day in the history of the country because democracy and India’s highest judicial institution were disrespected. In India’s history, a protest march has never been taken out against the Supreme Court. This is an attack on the country’s highest judicial institution. They want to spread unrest and chaos in the country. This is a major, well-planned conspiracy,” he said.

Shinde alleged that the protest was part of an international conspiracy and accused the Opposition of attempting to obstruct the country’s development.

“I will say that it is an international conspiracy. Protesting with them is treason. The Leader of the Opposition works like a puppet. It is shameful that they are trying to hinder the country’s progress,” he said.

Claiming that the Opposition was attempting to tarnish India’s image internationally, Shinde praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and said the country was moving towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

“PM Modi has taken the country to great heights. He is taking the country forward towards Viksit Bharat by 2047. At a time when the economies of several countries have collapsed, he is taking India from the Fragile Five to the top five,” he said.

Shinde attributed the Opposition’s criticism to jealousy and said that 140 crore Indians stood with the Prime Minister. He also accused Opposition leaders of being desperate to return to power despite repeated electoral defeats.

He further criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over an alleged incident involving a woman journalist during Monday’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

A woman journalist had claimed that she was three months pregnant and alleged that Gandhi grabbed her hand and pulled her forward before his security personnel pushed her away while she was covering the protest.

Questioning Gandhi’s conduct, Shinde said it was inappropriate for the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to behave in such a manner and accused him of seeking publicity. He urged citizens to consider whether Opposition leaders were working to unite or divide the country.

“It is the responsibility of every citizen to ensure that they fail,” he said, referring to the Opposition.

Shinde also reacted to the controversy involving actor Imran Khan following his protest in Mumbai, alleging that forces were attempting to damage India’s reputation.

“The way people say that we will make the country as strong as China, what is this? What is the purpose and intention? The way the INDIA bloc is trying to stop the country’s progress, we have to make them fail,” he said.

Reiterating his demand for strict action against those he accused of acting against the country, Shinde said, “Not just an FIR, they should be put in jail if they are speaking against the country or engaging in treasonous activities.”

Referring to the Emergency, he said that people were now free to approach the Supreme Court, organise protests and express their views, unlike during the period when restrictions were imposed on the media.

Shinde also criticised Gandhi for allegedly comparing himself to Lord Shiva. He said such comparisons were inappropriate and warned the Opposition against what he described as provocative conduct.

Shinde further said those who compared themselves to Lord Shiva should remember the symbolism of the deity’s third eye, adding that the INDIA bloc and other Opposition parties would be reduced to ashes by its fire.