Pune: Eknath Shinde Triggers Row with “Jai Gujarat” Slogan in Presence of Amit Shah
Pune, 4th July 2025: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has sparked a political controversy after concluding a public event in Pune with the slogan “Jai Gujarat” in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from opposition leaders and political observers.
According to reports, Shinde, while addressing the audience from the stage, ended his speech with the words, “Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, Jai Gujarat.” The event, attended by Amit Shah, was otherwise focused on development projects and local issues.
Opposition parties have seized on Shinde’s slogan, alleging it amounts to an insult to Maharashtra and Marathi pride. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Manoj Chavan slammed the Deputy Chief Minister, saying, “This is a true display of subservience. Just to please Amit Shah, he raised a ‘Jai Gujarat’ slogan on Maharashtra’s soil. This is an insult to Marathi people. If you live in Maharashtra, you should be careful about what you say. Saying ‘Jai Gujarat’ here is nothing but a betrayal of Maharashtra.”
The row comes at a politically sensitive time, as Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are set to share a stage for the first time in two decades on July 5, signaling a new political alignment ahead of key municipal elections. The Thackeray cousins plan to unite around the Marathi pride issue, precisely the sentiment Shinde’s slogan has now drawn into the spotlight.
