Shiv Sena (UBT) Denies Viral Image of Uddhav Thackeray Bowing to Rahul Gandhi

Mumbai, August 15: The Shiv Sena (UBT) has responded to a viral image circulating on social media that depicts UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray bowing before Congress MP Rahul Gandhi with folded hands. In a post on X, the party labeled the image as fake and manipulated, asserting that it reflects the "BJP DNA" of spreading falsehoods. The post expressed disappointment that Thackeray has not emulated the legacy of his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, while also condemning the intent behind the image. The controversial image was originally shared by a handle named 'The Jaipur Dialogues,' which aimed to suggest that Uddhav Thackeray had "surrendered" to the Congress party. This narrative has been a common accusation from the BJP and Thackeray's political opponents. Despite the clear evidence of manipulation in the image, it has been widely circulated by various right-wing accounts to undermine Thackeray's political standing. In a broader context, this incident is part of a pattern where misleading visuals and claims are used to attack political figures. A previous instance involved a video of Sharad Pawar appearing to dismiss Uddhav Thackeray, which was misrepresented to suggest an insult. In reality, Pawar was merely asking Thackeray to wait before their conversation, highlighting the ongoing misinformation in the political landscape as the Lok Sabha elections approach.