Mumbai: MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday came out in support of suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who had sparked a massive row with her remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
Speaking to an English news channel, Raj Thackeray said, “Everybody asked for Nupur Sharma to apologise. I supported her. What she said has been earlier said by Dr Zakir Naik. Nobody asked for an apology from Naik.”
Nupur Sharma’s remark on the Prophet during a TV debate had triggered protests across the country and drew sharp reactions from many Gulf countries. The BJP subsequently suspended her from the party.
Thackeray also lashed out at AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi for allegedly insulting Hindu gods and goddesses. He also targeted his cousin and embattled Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, who was ousted from power after rebel leader Eknath Shinde engineered a split in the party and formed the government with BJP’s support.
He questioned Uddhav’s fallout with the BJP in 2019 over the power-sharing arrangement by which he would get the CM post for 2.5 years only. The Shiv Sena ultimately broke off its alliance with the BJP after the Assembly polls and joined hands with the Congress and the NCP to stake claim in Maharashtra.