A senior leader of Shiv Sena UBT, Arvind Sawant, offered a nuanced perspective on Hindutva and 'sons of the soil' ideology, stating that founder Balasaheb Thackeray's definition of Hindutva was inclusive and focused on sacrifice for the nation, not just religious identity. Sawant highlighted that Thackeray's Shiv Sena included members of various faiths and that the 'Marathi first' concept extended to long-term residents, not solely ethnic Marathi individuals. He contrasted this with current leaders' statements, suggesting a departure from the original ideology.