Pune: Sambhaji Raje firmly rejected allegations that the Maharashtra Swarajya Party (MSP) is functioning as a 'B-team' of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a gathering during the foundation day celebrations of the MSP, he clarified that certain leaders in Maharashtra are spreading this false narrative, but there is no truth to it.
During his speech, Sambhaji Raje highlighted that when he supported Congress during the Lok Sabha elections, no one accused him of being aligned with BJP.
He added, “I directly questioned the Prime Minister about the Shivaji Memorial, a move no one else dared to make. If I had the courage to confront the top leadership, how can my party be called BJP’s ally? Our party is here to create a political transformation by aligning with like-minded individuals and marginalized communities.”
Sambhaji Raje strongly criticized the growing privatization of the cooperative sector, particularly in Western Maharashtra, stating that prominent leaders such as Sharad Pawar, Rohit Pawar, Pankaja Munde, and Ajit Pawar control most of the sugar factories.
He accused these leaders of dismantling the cooperative movement in Maharashtra, which was once the backbone of the state’s economy.
He also took note of the Central Government’s recent decision to accord classical language status to Marathi, calling it a moment of pride. However, he expressed concern over the dwindling number of Marathi-medium schools and questioned the government’s expenditure on health and education versus populist schemes like 'Ladki Bahin'.
He also criticized the government for recovering the aid given to farmers through GST on essential farming supplies such as fertilizers and seeds.
In a direct attack on senior politician Sharad Pawar, Sambhaji Raje said that the Maharashtra Swarajya Party and its members are often underestimated, but they will respond through their work and achievements in the near future.
