A day after Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil said not a single Shiv Sena worker was involved in the Babri Masjid demolition, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should either step down or seek Mr Patil's resignation over his remarks.
When the mosque was being brought down, rats were hiding in their burrows, Mr Thackeray said, addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
The former Chief Minister said his party's Hindutva is "nationalism" and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should explain what is its Hindutva.
"When Babri was being demolished, all rats were hiding in their burrows," he said.
Uddhav Thackeray said either Chief Minister Shinde should resign over Mr Patil's remarks or seek the latter's resignation.
Senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil, who is the minister of higher and technical education in the Eknath Shinde government, on Monday said not a single worker of the Shiv Sena was near the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya when it was brought down by the Bajrang Dal and Durga Vahini on December 6, 1992.
Incidentally, Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying he was proud if any of his Sainiks took part in the demolition of the disputed structure.
Mr Patil on Monday said Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut keeps talking about the Babri Masjid demolition, and wondered if the latter was even there at the temple town in Uttar Pradesh at the time.
He also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray for accusing Chief Minister Shinde of stealing the legacy of Bal Thackeray.
The late Shiv Sena founder was not the property of anyone and was someone who was hugely respected by the people, Mr Patil said.
"Balasaheb is the property of all Hindus and everyone is free to use his name (legacy)," the BJP leader had said.
The Shiv Sena split after a rebellion in June last year by Mr Shinde, who got the party name and 'bow and arrow' symbol, while Uddhav Thackeray's faction was christened Shiv Sena (UBT) with a flaming torch as its symbol.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Jharkhand Polls: What's At Stake?
Sharad Pawar Rubbished Rahul Gandhi's Attack On Adani: BJP's Amit Malviya Looting Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde Takes On Rahul Gandhi Over Dharavi Project From Auto Rickshaw Driver To Maharashtra Chief Minister: The Eknath Shinde Story AR Rahman, Wife Saira Announce Separation After 29 Years Of Marriage "Exposed": BJP Alleges Bitcoin Scam In Maharashtra Poll, Supriya Sule Reacts Air India Flight From Paris Diverted To Jaipur, Fliers Sent To Delhi On Bus Netanyahu Makes Rare Gaza Visit, Says "Hamas Will Never Rule Again" Trump Names Howard Lutnick As Commerce Secretary In Key Transition Pick PM Modi Visits Guyana, Aims To Strengthen Cultural Ties, Energy Links Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.