Devendra Fadnavis, not Babasaheb Purandare, the real issue: Raj Thackeray

Q: What was your first reaction when Babasaheb Purandare was chosen for the Maharashtra Bhushan award?
A: I was very happy.

Q: Earlier, the award function was held at big venues like Wankhede Stadium and Shanmukhnanda Hall. Why is it being held at Raj Bhavan with limited people now?
A: The current BJP government is indecisive and they are cowards. There is politics behind the award. Chief ministerial aspirants in the BJP are helping the NCP to turn the Maharashtra Bhushan and Purandare issue into a larger one. They want to outwit chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Most people in the government and in the opposition cannot digest Fadnavis, a Brahmin, as chief minister. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is helping this disgruntled group.

Q: Can you throw more light on how BJP leaders are behind this controversy?
A: A few days back, education and cultural minister Vinod Tawde (Maratha) met me and told me that this year they are going to give Maharashtra Bhushan to Mr Purandare. If the government has set up a committee to chose the candidate for this highest state civilian award, how come Mr Tawde knew the name? This is nothing but a larger conspiracy to create a controversy to show that Fadnavis, a Brahmin, chose Mr Purandare, another Brahmin. They want to project the that Brahmins are chosing only Brahmins for various awards.

Q: Why is there a difference of opinion in the Pawar family regarding Purandare?
A: This is just to confuse people and get votes. This is nothing but vote-bank politics, keeping an eye on the majority Maratha vote-bank. Pawar is the main person behind this entire controversy. Mr Purandare is not the issue, the main issue is Fadnavis. When Manohar Joshi was chief minister, a similar controversy was tried to be created, saying that Peshwahi (Brahmin regime) will come back in Maharashtra, where 99% are non-Brahmins. At that time, Balasaheb Thackeray was there and nobody dared to create a controversy. Fadnavis is a junior and nobody is here to protect him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chose Fadnavis as chief minister, has taken maun vrat. So, Fadnavis has been isolated in state politics.

Q: You have been advised to read history written by your grandfather...
A: Nobody should advise me what to read and what not to read. I have been reading since my childhood. Some people have just started reading history.