From Parliament To Proxy Wars: Dr. Shrikant Shinde Opens Up On Sena's Future, Terror Diplomacy & BMC Battle — Watch Full Interview
In the inaugural episode of Leaders Lounge, a powerful new interview series by The Free Press Journal, Member of Parliament Dr. Shrikant Shinde sat down with Executive Editors Afrida Rahman Ali and S. Balakrishnan for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on politics, international diplomacy, Maharashtra's development, and the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray.
From leading India's multi-party delegation to West Asia and West Africa to defending the Lay Bhandi Yojana, Dr. Shinde spoke with unusual clarity and confidence on why the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction is here to stay — and why Maharashtra will not bow to what he called “false propaganda.”
Key highlights from the conversation:
On International Outreach:
“Terrorism is not India’s problem alone,” said Dr. Shinde, praising PM Narendra Modi’s global outreach efforts to expose Pakistan’s proxy war strategy. He emphasized India’s diplomatic win, citing Pakistan being under FATF review and receiving global condemnation.
On Pakistan and U.S. Dynamics:
When asked about Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s White House visit, Dr. Shinde said, “Nations act out of self-interest… but the world must not forget 9/11 and where Osama bin Laden was found.”
On Sena’s Split & His Father's Role:
Calling Eknath Shinde’s rebellion “a bold step taken purely on ideological differences,” Dr. Shrikant Shinde rejected the idea that it was for power. “He never intended to become CM,” he said.
On Future of Shiv Sena:
“Sena is not a private limited company anymore,” he quipped, taking a veiled dig at the UBT faction. “Any Karyakarta can rise through merit. There's no No.1 or No.2 block in our party anymore.”
On Aditya Thackeray Comparisons:
“We don’t believe in dynastic politics. Raj ka beta Rajanai banega – only work and party-building matters,” said the MP, refusing to be drawn into direct comparisons.
On Lay Bhandi Scheme & Economy:
Despite mounting debt concerns, Dr. Shinde insisted Maharashtra’s ₹1 trillion economy vision is intact. “Every state has debt. Lay Bhandi is not charity — it’s circular economy,” he asserted.
On the Disha Salian Case:
Labeling it “sensitive” and “subjudice,” Dr. Shinde maintained the truth would eventually emerge, urging trust in the judicial process.
On Rahul Gandhi & Foreign Influence:
“He should come out of George Soros’s orbit,” said Shinde bluntly, adding that Pakistan is weaponizing Rahul Gandhi’s statements.
On Infrastructure and Rural Disparity:
Rejecting comparisons to Bihar, he said, “Maharashtra is investing heavily beyond Mumbai — from Nagpur to Sindhudurg, rural transformation is happening.”
On 2024 BMC & TMC Polls:
Shinde confirmed that Mahayuti will fight united and predicted a “confident victory” in upcoming municipal elections.
On Choosing Politics Over Medicine:
A trained orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Shinde revealed he never intended to join politics, but the party needed a young, educated face. “Both surgery and politics are full-time. I chose to serve people at scale.”
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