Fadnavis, who heads a three-party coalition government comprising Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said those questioning the remark do not understand the meaning of crutches.
Amit Shah: Political activity has intensified in Maharashtra following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement regarding crutches. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified Shah’s statement, saying that friends are not crutches. In fact, while energizing party workers for the upcoming elections, Amit Shah said on Monday that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not need crutches in the state; the party now runs on its own strength.
Many meanings were being drawn from Amit Shah’s statement in political circles. However, by evening, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued a clarification. Fadnavis, who heads a three-party coalition government with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said, “Those questioning this comment don’t understand the meaning of ‘crutches.’ Friends are not crutches.”
What did the Union Home Minister say?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in South Mumbai to inaugurate the BJP’s new office near Churchgate station. Addressing party workers, he urged them to ensure that the opposition is wiped out in the upcoming local body elections, making them invisible even with binoculars. He said, “We have proven that the politics of dynastic parties will no longer work in this country. Only the politics of work will take the country forward. Modi ji is the best example of this. A child born in the family of a simple tea seller became the Prime Minister of India through his dedication, sacrifice, and hard work.”
Shah said, “I believe that a party that cannot uphold democracy in its functioning can never protect the country’s democracy. This is a strong message to all dynastic parties.”
The Union Minister said that the BJP operates on democratic principles and that party workers can rise in the party hierarchy based on hard work and performance. He said, “I was a booth president and became the national president, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes from a poor family and is leading the country for the third time due to his commitment and sacrifice.”
Referring to the undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray, Shah said that in 2014, the BJP had demanded a respectable seat-sharing arrangement, but the alliance broke down. “We contested the elections on our own after a long time and emerged as the largest party with Devendra Fadnavis becoming the Chief Minister. Earlier, we were fourth in state politics, but today we are the number one party,” Shah said.