PM Modi has time to meet traitors but not protesting youth: Uddhav Thackeray

Published 9 August 2026 · politics

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (August 8, 2026) took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of finding time for

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (August 8, 2026) took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of finding time for “traitors” while being indifferent towards protesting youth and having no time to attend Parliament. Thackeray was referring to a recent meeting of Mr. Modi with his rival Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and the six newly inducted MPs. The meeting took place after a breakfast meeting with MPs from NDA constituents on Friday (August 7, 2026). On Saturday (August 8, 2026), he stated, “You can’t meet the youth on whom your government did the lathi charge, but you are assuring traitors who robbed Shiv Sena that you have their back.” He also asked whether the meeting was a threat or a message to the Supreme Court, when the hearing was lined up.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed four years ago. The plea was submitted after the Election Commission of India (ECI) concluded that Mr. Shinde’s was the “real” Shiv Sena and allotted the party symbol of bow and arrow to it. Another plea was filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s recognition of six of its MPs merging with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. On August 5, the Supreme Court heard the case concerning the Shiv Sena name-and-election-symbol dispute. While addressing the media, he asked his party leader to present the newspaper clippings of the Shinde-Modi meet in the Supreme Court.

‘Traitor virus is killing democracy’ Thackeray pointed out that he hopes the judgment would be based on the Constitution. “However, the traitor virus is killing democracy. People who love democracy should side with the Constitution,” he added. He also asked how the EC can argue in court that they don’t have historical references of the Shiv Sena party. If they don’t have them, we could have given them, but deciding without complete information is unethical. “This makes no sense. However, we are hopeful as hearings have started,” he added. He also took potshots at Mr. Modi, saying, “I was criticised for holding Facebook Live sessions during COVID-19; now Mr. Modi is running the government through Instagram.” On RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s session with Gen Z on Thursday (August 6, 2026), Mr. Thackeray said, “The RSS chief says youngsters are not listening.

This is because they are asking questions to which the government has not responded. Before dialoguing with Gen Z, he should have had the resignation of Union Minister Amit Shah.”