X: @vivekbhavsar
Mumbai: A fresh political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra after arms dealer Abhishek Verma, who faced serious allegations in the past, joined the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and was appointed as a national coordinator. This development has raised eyebrows, particularly because Verma was once at the centre of a major scandal that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had aggressively pursued in 2006.
Leader of Opposition in the Upper House Ambadas Danve questioned the BJP’s silence on Verma’s induction into the Shinde faction, which is widely seen as a BJP-backed group. Taking to social media, Danve reminded BJP leaders that Verma had not only been accused of serious wrongdoing in the past but had also filed a legal case against BJP stalwart L.K. Advani.
शस्त्र व्यापार विश्वात ज्यावर मागे मोठे आरोप झाले असा अभिषेक वर्मा हा शिंदे गटात गेला आणि तो राष्ट्रीय समन्वयकही झाला. मुळात वर्मावर २००६ साली आज शिंदेंचे छत्र असलेल्या भारतीय जनता पक्षाने त्यावर मोठे आरोप केले होते. या आरोपानंतर वर्माने भाजपचे ज्येष्ठ नेते लाल कृष्ण अडवाणी…
— Ambadas Danve (@iambadasdanve) February 12, 2025
Has the BJP Forgotten Its Own Battle?
Back in 2006, when the BJP was in the opposition, it had launched a full-fledged attack on Abhishek Verma, alleging his involvement in dubious arms deals. The accusations were so severe that Verma took legal action against then-BJP veteran L.K. Advani. At the time, the BJP had positioned itself as a party committed to national security and had sought strict action against those involved in arms-related scandals.
Now, with Verma finding a place in the Shinde camp—a faction that relies on BJP’s support—questions are being raised about whether the party has conveniently forgotten its past stance.
Danve, in his tweet, pointedly asked whether Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have now turned a blind eye to the case Verma filed against Advani. He suggested that the BJP’s ideological fight against corruption and wrongdoing now seems hollow, given that individuals once accused by the party are now being welcomed into a BJP-affiliated faction.
The controversy also raises concerns about L.K. Advani’s political legacy within the BJP. If individuals like Verma, once targeted by the party, are now being accommodated in its extended fold, does this mean that Advani’s battles hold no value for the current BJP leadership?
Danve’s attack has put the Shinde camp and the BJP on the defensive, as opposition leaders are expected to use this development to highlight alleged double standards in the BJP’s approach to governance and political alliances.
As questions mount, will the BJP and the Shinde faction respond to these allegations, or will they choose to remain silent?
