Shiv Sena’s Team Uddhav Compares Opposition Meet to ‘Wagner Group’ Rebellion, Sparks Debate

Mumbai: In a recent editorial published in Saamana, the official mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena party led by Uddhav Thackeray, a bizarre parallel was drawn between the Opposition and the ruling BJP in India and the Wagner group’s rebellion against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comparison has raised eyebrows, considering that the Wagner group is a mercenary organization comprised of convicts recruited from Russian prisons.

The editorial went on to label the Wagner group as the “defender of democracy,” drawing similarities between their rebellion against Putin and the Opposition parties gathering in Patna to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The editorial further claimed that the ruling BJP, led by Modi and Shah, has allegedly employed a large number of mercenaries to secure victory and exert pressure on voters.

The Shiv Sena mouthpiece pointed to the ongoing situation in Russia as a direct example of the alleged attempts by Modi and Shah to establish dictatorship and authoritarianism in India, akin to Putin’s regime in Russia.

Regarding Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the United States, the editorial criticized his command of the English language, suggesting that he made a mockery of himself during the press conference. It alleged that the Prime Minister faltered when confronted with questions about India’s democracy, Constitution, and treatment of minorities.

Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), also utilized the Wagner group comparison to describe the political landscape in Maharashtra. He likened Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his ministers, who belong to the alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), to the “rented army” of the Wagner group. Raut warned the BJP that Shinde and his ministers would soon turn against them, emphasizing their loyalty to no particular party.