The much-awaited battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Company will pit the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering and the Shiv Sena in opposition to the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirmal Sena (MNS), respectively, led by cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, who reunited after 20 years. Brothers voting board combines growth agenda with Marathi enchantment Asmita (pleasure).
In an interview, Sena (UBT) president and former CM Uddhav Thackeray accused the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering of “conspiring to take Mumbai from Maharashtra”, insisted his social gathering was not hostile to non-Marathis, and admitted that regardless of confusion over the way forward for the opposition MVA and India Bloc, he was hopeful “issues will work out”. excerpt:
* A 12 months after the state elections, you have got allied along with your cousin Raj Thackeray within the municipal elections, which can be held after a delay of greater than 4 years. What does this election imply for you and your social gathering?
Shiv Sena was based throughout the Samyukta Maharashtra Motion. At the moment, there was an enormous wrestle and many individuals sacrificed their lives for Mumbai and Marathi id. After that wrestle, Maharashtra acquired Mumbai. We didn’t obtain Mumbai as a present, however the best way they (ruling alliance) are actually handing it over to (businessman Gautam) Adani. That is the distinction between us.
After Mumbai was secured within the state of Maharashtra, the Marathis didn’t get the respect they deserved. They misplaced their shallowness and confidence. To revive that dignity, my father (Balasaheb Thackeray) based Shiv Sena. After Mr. Balasaheb died in 2012, the highest management of the Gujarati-majority Bharatiya Janata Social gathering wished to put declare to Mumbai. That’s the reason the 2014 break from the alliance with the undivided Sena failed. I did the identical factor in 2017 and failed once more. In 2019 they betrayed me and nonetheless failed.
Then they broke up my social gathering. They stole my social gathering and its identify and even my father’s picture. They did this as a result of they realized that they may not seize Mumbai so long as Uddhav Thackeray was there. Now they’re conspiring once more to take Mumbai from Maharashtra.
In cities, kids of the soil, Marathis, fishermen and different native communities haven’t any house. Their land is being taken away. Individuals are requested whether or not they eat non-vegetarian meals or not. Marathis are being denied housing due to what they eat. The conspiracy is to advertise Marathi Manus From Mumbai. I will not enable that. This battle is to cease that plot.
* So, for you, is that this a struggle to avoid wasting the Marathi language? Asmita From Gujarat?
We aren’t in opposition to non-Marathis, however in opposition to those that are doing injustice to us and attempting to rob and plunder Mumbai. We aren’t in opposition to all Gujaratis or North and South Indians. I’m at present 65 years previous. There are a lot of aged Gujaratis in Mumbai whose grandfathers and great-grandfathers reside in Mumbai. All of them reside right here in peace and concord. ”
For a number of years we have now been working BMC. “In hospitals, we offer medical care to everybody with out discrimination and in occasions of catastrophe, our Sainiks don’t ask whether or not somebody is Marathi or not. What number of Bharatiya Janata Social gathering staff would do the identical? None.”
*You’re accusing the BJP of abandoning its ideology, however when your social gathering break up, the rebels accused you of becoming a member of palms with the Congress and NCP to do the identical.
What did they do in Akot once they joined forces with AIMIM? In Ambernath, they joined palms with the Congress. When the BJP felt it was mistaken to ally with the Shiv Sena, they determined it was proper to ally with a Sena traitor. How is that truthful? In Palghar, the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering has inducted into the social gathering the identical particular person it had earlier accused in reference to the lynching of a sadhu in 2020. That’s the reason I name the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering an amoeba. It has no mounted ideology and continues to vary kind.
*The Bharatiya Janata Social gathering is accusing you of abandoning Hindutva. How do you reply to that?
Why did I abandon Hindutva? In the present day, individuals’s eyes are being opened. They understand they’re being brainwashed. Present me one election speech by Narendra Modi or Devendra Fadnavis the place there is no such thing as a Hindu-Muslim polarization. Throughout Lok Sabha elections, it was ‘Mangalsutra choli’. Now, relating to the Mumbai election, there’s a “Muslim Mayor”.
Why do not they speak about growth? Native authorities elections ought to be fought over public services, not faith. I am a staunch Hindu, however that does not imply I disrespect different religions. They pollute individuals’s minds.
*The BJP additionally claims that you simply took credit score for the event work achieved by them.
I take credit score for the true and concrete work we have now achieved comparable to BDD Chawls, Coastal Street, Atal Setu, Metro Line, Samruddhi Expressway, Water Tunnels, Ingesting Water Dams, Training, Healthcare, and so forth. I did not cease tasks like Metro, MTHL, Samruddhi Mahamarg. That is why they have been in a position to put them in workplace and steal the credit score.
* Has politics in Maharashtra modified and change into harder?
Who began it? Who began crashing the social gathering? When individuals ask why Raj and I acquired collectively, I ask, “Would you like somebody who breaks up houses or somebody who reconciles?” Reconciliation is a part of Hindu tradition, a joint household.
* After 20 years, you and Raj Thackeray reunited. Is reconciliation with the BJP potential?
Raj and I turned estranged, however Marathi id, Hindutva and Maharashtra have been by no means deserted by both of us. The core remained the identical.
We labored individually. If the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering goes to learn as a result of we’re divided and they’ll obtain their targets, then that should not occur, so we determined to come back collectively. We’re reunited for trigger.
We have been with the BJP for Hindutva. However at present, I do not perceive the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering’s model or framework of Hindutva. Cow slaughter has been banned in Maharashtra, however not in Goa or the Northeast. They create a divide between Hinduism and Islam. Once I be part of the Congress, individuals say I’ve deserted Hindutva, but when they do that a lot, is it acceptable? When the BJP does one thing, it’s Amar Prem. After we do this, it’s love jihad. They weren’t a part of the liberty wrestle or the Samyukta Maharashtra motion. They solely create battle. they’re harmful
* What does the longer term maintain for Maha Vikas Aghadi with this partnership with MNS? Is not there any confusion now that each NCP events have unified?
It is true that confusion continues. It is there. However regularly this confusion will clear up. It’s essential to give it time. Nothing occurs in a single day. We tried INDIA Alliance after which MVA.
* So do you settle for that there’s confusion within the Indian alliance too?
Sure, there’s confusion. Why ought to we deny it? However I hope issues work out. Expertise is the best trainer. Nevertheless, the alliance with India will stay intact.
* What do you concentrate on what’s occurring in West Bengal: What do you concentrate on Mamata Banerjee’s grievance in opposition to ED over the assault?
What Mamataji did was proper. There may be abuse of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Anybody who participates can get clear info. That is an abuse of energy and have to be opposed.
* What precisely do you imply whenever you declare that Mumbai can be separated from Maharashtra? And is that potential?
Once I say break up, I do not imply it actually. What I’m saying is, they’ll take over Mumbai. And it is already begun.
Why did they impose Hindi (within the main college curriculum)? In the present day I’ll communicate to you in Hindi. I’m not anti-Hindi. However there is no have to pressure it on us. This energy reveals their intentions. Even when we aren’t pressured to take action, we communicate Hindi with love.
There are some non-Maharashtrians who communicate Marathi higher than me. We aren’t in opposition to non-Marathi people who find themselves patriots and respect the Marathi language.
