- Friday, February 28, 2025
An editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ drew a connection between the Wagner mercenary group’s revolt against Putin and the opposition parties’ recent meeting in Patna in Bihar.
By: Shubham Ghosh
DRAWING a parallel between a recent meeting of a number of opposition parties in India and the rebellious action by the Wagner mercenary group in Russia challenging the Vladimir Putin regime, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party on Monday (26) claimed that the opposition parties, referred to as the “Wagner group” in India, will overthrow the Narendra Modi government through non-violent means, utilising the electoral process.
In a dramatic turn of events, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, called for an armed rebellion and stated that his forces had control over military facilities in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. They also began marching towards Moscow.
Putin denounced the rebellion as an act of betrayal and treason. Subsequently, Prigozhin ordered his mercenaries to halt their march and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine to prevent shedding Russian blood, following negotiations facilitated by the Belarusian president.
An editorial in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ drew a connection between the Wagner mercenary group’s revolt against Putin and the opposition parties’ recent meeting in Patna in the eastern state of Bihar.
The editorial highlighted the resolve of over 32 leaders from various opposition parties who gathered in Patna and pledged to confront the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of prime minister Narendra Modi unitedly in the 2024 general elections. The editorial proclaimed that the “Wagner group” had demonstrated that dictatorship could be challenged.
The editorial further asserted that, like Putin, Modi must be removed from power, but through democratic means. It claimed that the “Wagner group” emerged in Patna as defenders of democracy. It also stated that the outcome of the 2024 elections would not be decided by electronic voting machines (EVMs), but by the people.
“Be it Modi or Putin, they have to face rebellion. The government in India will be dislodged by a non-violent Wagner and that route will be through the ballot box. The Wagner group came together in Patna as a protector of democracy,” the mouthpiece said.
If there were any EVM-related irregularities, the editorial contended that the country would witness a situation akin to the northeastern state of Manipur, where there is widespread anger against the federal government. The ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, was referenced to illustrate the intensity of public sentiment.
Additionally, the editorial alleged that the BJP had enlisted individuals such as Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s faction as their protectors, but they would eventually betray the BJP. Shinde had previously led a revolt against the Shiv Sena leadership, leading to a split in the party and the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (Maharashtra Development Front) government in June last year.
Ultimately, Shinde became the chief minister with the BJP’s support.
(With agency inputs)
