BJP, Shiv Senahave similar ideology, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday said the alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Senais based on their commitment to a similar ideology.

Fadnavis said this is "New India" which is filled with nationalism.

This is not the "Old India" which could not take a firm stand on the issue of national security, he said, addressing a joint gathering of Sena-BJP workers here.

The BJP chief minister said the opposition cannot compete with the saffron allaince on the issue of development.

"I feel the way BJP-Sena alliance has prepared itself, I am confident our alliance will cross the 42-seat mark this time (out of the total 48) in the state.

"The country's atmosphere is different now, on one side is development, but what is much more dear to BJP-Shiv Senaworkers is India and nationalism," he said.

"We are the people who believe in country first," said Fadnavis.

Fadnavis said earlier governments only condemned terror attacks and approached world bodies like the United Nations with their grievances.

He said Pakistan and its terror outfits thought this government (the BJP-led NDA), too, will be the same, but this is not Old IndiabutNew India filled with nationalism.

This New India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave the armed forces full liberty to take revenge for terror attacks and give a befitting reply, Fadnavis said.

"However, I feel sad when somepeople ask for proof from the armed forces. On one hand, they ask for proof from the armed forces and on the other they refer terrorist Masood Azhar as 'Azharji'.

"I know these people would never get elected, but I fear if by any chance they come into power tommorow they will change the history.

"They will call Aurangzeb as 'Auranzebji', Afzal Khan as 'Afzal Khan ji and General Dyer as General Dyer ji," Fadnavis said, in a sharp attack on the Congress.

Hitting out at opposition parties, he said they have no sense of national prestige and are only interested in politics of power.

"They can go to any extent for power," said Fadnavis.

He said the alliance of the BJP-Shiv-Sena is "an alliance of ideology".

"We are Hindutva (parties) and are proud of it. Hindutva is not a limited concept so whosoever, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, has nationalism in him is part of this Hindutva.

"This is the thread that binds the Sena and the BJP together," said Fadnavis.