A Shiv Sena (UBT) event became 'nostalgic' for many followers as it included a speech of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Uddhav's Sena used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recreate a voice resembling that of Balasaheb Thackrey. The stunt soon gathered attention and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticised the move and called it a "childish stunt" and "disgrace".
In a nearly 13-minute speech, a booming voice resembling that of Bal Thackeray, began speaking with his trademark opening line 'Jamlelya majhya tamam Hindu bandhavanu, baghinino ani matano' (greetings to my Hindu brothers, sisters and mothers who have gathered here). The AI voice of Bal Thackeray was played at a Shiv Sena (UBT) gathering in Nashik.
What did Bal Thackrey's AI voice say
"Nobody in Maharashtra or the country knew the BJP. So we gave them a shoulder. A shoulder is a support. We have nurtured them in Maharashtra. But now the time has come to give them a shoulder to cry on. Of course, we had this relationship with them for 25 years. Hindutva grew in Maharashtra only because of the Shiv Sena. Then, who broke the relationship?" Bal Thackeray's AI voice said at the UBT Sena's event.
"What did those BJP and fake Shiv Sena people do to get such a large number of votes? What kind of freedom is this if such decisions are being forcibly imposed in a democracy? This is my Shivaji's Maharashtra. I will not stab anyone in the back. But now only wounds and punches are left on the back of Maharashtra. Even if a hundred of your fathers come down, you will not be able to end the existence of Shiv Sena," it added.
BJP calls it a 'childish stunt'
State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule condemned AI play by Sena (UBT). "Disgrace! When no one is listening to their voice, only a group like UBT could resort to the childish act of making their points heard in the voice of revered Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray," Bawankule said.
He also listed a series of actions by Sena (UBT) that, in his opinion, contraicted Bal Thackeray’s ideology.
"I am certain that today, those who called Balasaheb ‘Janab’ named gardens after Tipu Sultan, embraced Rahul Gandhi who insults Veer V D Savarkar, voted against the Waqf board, sat beside those who opposed Ram Mandir, supported Article 370 sympathisers, extorted money through the likes of Waze, made deals even in dead body bags, committed scams during COVID, and filled their coffers by looting Marathi households – Balasaheb would have kicked them out," Bawankule said in his post.
