Bangle jibe leads to tiff between Aaditya and Fadnavis couple

A war of words broke out between former allies on Wednesday with Aaditya Thackeray slamming Devendra Fadnavis over the latter's remark about the Shiv Sena 'wearing bangles', and the BJP's leader's wife, in turn, calling the Thackeray scion a "cocooned worm".

Aaditya, who is tourism minister in the Maharashtra government led by his father and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, demanded apology from Fadnavis for demeaning women.

Questioning the Sena's "silence" over a communal remark made by AIMIM leader Waris Pathan, Fadnavis had said that Uddhav Thackeray's party "may have worn bangles" (suggesting that it lacked courage), but the BJP will not keep quiet on the issue.

Fadnavis, however, had hastened to add that he was aware that women do not like this phrase, so he would not use it.

Aaditya, nonetheless, targeted him on Twitter.

"Shri @Dev_Fadnavis ji, normally I choose not to comment back. Kindly apologise abt bangles comment: bangles are worn by the strongest of all- the women. Politics can go on, but we need to change this discourse. Rather disgraceful coming from a fmr CM," Thackeray tweeted on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters outside the Assembly later, Aaditya again said thatFadnavis should apologise.

Asked about Fadnavis's wife Amruta referring to him as a "cocooned worm", Aaditya said he would not comment on it.

Amruta Fadnavis, in response to Aaditya's tweet seeking apology from her husband, had tweeted, "a cocooned worm will never understand the 'pun' of life! its meant to thrive on the gloryof the silken life woven for its comfort by its ancestors."
In the same tweet, she also tagged Devendra Fadnavis and said, "proud of your struggles and each and every hardworking member of BJP Maharashtra."