Fadnavis dismisses 'Operation Devendra' remark: 'I don't have wings, so nobody can clip them'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday dismissed remarks by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray about an 'Operation Devendra' aimed at reducing his political stature, stating that he does not have wings for anyone to clip. Fadnavis made the remarks while speaking to reporters after visiting Palghar district to review the Vadhavan Port and other infrastructure projects.
Reacting to Thackeray's claim from a rally on Saturday that 'Operation Tiger' was actually 'Operation Devendra' to ensure Fadnavis does not enter the race for Prime Minister, Fadnavis said: 'I am a human being. I don't have wings, so who can clip them? I have the blessings of Maharashtra's 14 crore people and my senior leaders, so there is no need to worry.'
Fadnavis also downplayed the political buzz surrounding his travel on the same flight as Thackeray from Mumbai to Nagpur on Friday, calling it a coincidence. He described the speculation as 'vedyancha bazaar' (market of mad people) and said there was nothing unusual about two leaders sharing a flight. 'He was sitting in one corner, and I was sitting in another. If we had been sitting next to each other, we could have chatted. What's wrong with that?' Fadnavis asked.
Responding to Thackeray's observation that Fadnavis appeared 'helpless' during the journey, the Chief Minister said he spent the flight time watching a movie on his mobile phone. 'From the time the flight took off until it landed, I was watching it. So where exactly did they see any helplessness on my face?' he asked.
Fadnavis further took a swipe at Thackeray, saying he accepts his good wishes now, but if they had been offered in 2019, the political situation might have been different. He reiterated that his focus remains on development, not political issues.
'Operation Tiger' refers to the recent defection of six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs to the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Thackeray claimed that this operation was actually directed at Fadnavis to curb his political ambitions.
