Aaditya Thackeray's questions on 'wagh nakh' childish, unworthy of response: Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic

Aaditya Thackeray on wagh nakh: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dubbed as "childish" and unworthy of a response Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray's questions on the authenticity of the 'wagh nakh', the fabled tiger claw-shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, reported the PTI.

Devendra Fadnavis also said the (undivided) "Shiv Sena" had a history of asking such "insulting" questions and alleged its leader Sanjay Raut had once questioned the lineage of the legendary warrior king, as per the PTI.

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According to the news agency, while addressing a press conference on Saturday, Aaditya Thackeray had asked if the 'wagh nakh' being brought to Maharashtra from a museum in United Kingdom would stay here permanently or was it on loan and whether it belonged to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj or was it from that era.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cleanliness event here on Sunday, Fadnavis said, "Shiv Sena has a history of raising such insulting questions. (Rajya Sabha MP) Sanjay Raut had once questioned the lineage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as well. Thackeray's question is childish. I do not want to respond to it."

State culture minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and officials from his department are slated to go to the UK on October 3 to get the revered weapon back.

Meanwhile, Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday sought the cancellation of Maharashtra industries minister Uday Samant's tour of the United Kingdom, Germany and Davos in Switzerland from October 3, reported the PTI.

Writing on X, Thackeray accused the minister of taking a holiday on the money of taxpayers.

"Who are the participants in the so-called round table conference you will attend in London and Munich? When there's absolutely nothing from WEF currently in Davos, Switzerland, what 'inspection tour' will you be carrying out? Is it to do with traffic management there? Are you the guardian minister of Davos?" Thackeray asked.

The Davos 'inspection visit' is a pure sham since the World Economic Forum meeting there is in January, Thackeray said, adding that Samant must cancel his "Swiss holiday on taxpayers' money".

If so much money is available with the state government, then it should provide relief to farmers or speak about the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, as per the PTI.

(with PTI inputs)