Sena (UBT) Claims 'Wagner Group' Will Oust Modi Government Democratically, Citing Opposition Parties

In an editorial published in the 'Saamana' newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party, a comparison was drawn between the recent armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the meeting of opposition parties in Patna. The editorial, which appeared on Monday, emphasized the demonstration by the Wagner group that dictatorship can be challenged, drawing a parallel to the gathering of opposition parties in Patna, which was referred to as a defender of democracy.

The editorial boldly stated that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin would face rebellion. It claimed that the Indian government would be ousted by a non-violent Wagner, and the means to achieve this would be through the ballot box. The editorial expressed the view that like Putin, Modi also needs to be replaced, but in a democratic manner.

Referring to the opposition parties' conclave in Patna, the Marathi daily characterized it as a protector of democracy, comparing it to the Wagner group's assembly in the same city. The meeting in Patna, hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, brought together more than 32 leaders from various opposition parties. They pledged to unite against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This meeting in Patna showcased the strength of the opposition as well as the challenges they face in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The recent events involving the Wagner mercenary group took a dramatic turn when its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, called for an armed rebellion and declared control over military facilities in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. The group even began marching towards Moscow. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as a betrayal and an act of treason. Subsequently, negotiations led by the Belarusian president took place, during which Prigozhin ordered his mercenaries to halt their advance on Moscow and retreat to their field camps in Ukraine. This decision was made to prevent any shedding of Russian blood.