In an attack on ally Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coming down on his remarks on corruption in India publicly on foreign soil, and attacking him for not finding the time to visit drought-hit Marathawada.
“Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar goes to Pakistan and speaks against India. If people are going to China and Europe criticising India, then it is not correct. Things that happen in India should remain in India. It can amount to maligning India’s reputation. ‘Termites of corruption have eaten India hollow,’ Prime Minister Modi publicly said in Doha. The Prime Minister speaking in these terms is like maligning India’s image on foreign soil, is what his critics can say,” said an editorial purportedly written by Uddhav Thackeray, editor-in-chief of the Sena mouthpiece Saamna.
“The Prime Minister also gave some supplementary information on foreign soil that when four Indians come together, they either talk about cricket, cinema or corruption. He also narrated funny instances of how corruption is practised in India and won applause. In short, he explained how India is a country deeply mired in corruption, and how his government is implementing drives to curb corruption,” the editorial said.
“But, the new government at Centre has just celebrated two years of completion and if people are still talking about corruption, who should be blamed? Can the instances of corruption reported from Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh be blamed on the Gandhi family?” the editorial asked.
Cautioning the political class, the editorial also said there was no need to travel to Europe and America to criticise Mr. Modi and the Gandhi family. “Since Modi is the face of the nation, other countries might believe what he speaks and take decisions based on that, which might affect the economic condition. Jibes at the Opposition should be taken within the country itself. One does not need to go to America or Europe to take potshots at Modi, Sonia or Rahul,” it added.
The editorial said levelling corruption charges against Robert Vadra and the Gandhi family was enough and it was now time to take action against them if they have indulged in wrongdoing.
Hours later, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, who also is the executive editor of Saamna, described the ruling dispensation as “worse than the Nizam”.
Speaking at a party foundation ceremony in Aurangabad, he said, “Now we are fighting the Nizam’s father. So we must clean our swords and cannons.”
Mr. Raut openly expressed his displeasure about Prime Minister Modi not heeding the Sena’s request to visit drought-hit Marathwada. He said in the past six months, the Prime Minister had visited several countries, and also addressed scores of poll rallies in West Bengal, Assam Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, but not Marathwada.
“He addressed 35 meetings in West Bengal, 40 in Tamil Nadu. Even in Kerala where the BJP is a pariah, he addressed 10 meetings. But when we urged him to visit Marathwada for just one day, he didn’t. That’s why I say we are fighting the Nizam’s father,” Mr Raut said, amid applause by party workers.
“Where are the achchhe din ? May be achchhe din for only a handful of people. Has the country or Maharashtra experienced achchhe din ? No. May be Khadse has,” he said.
He said there is no opposition party like the Shiv Sena. “Because even if we are in power, we are fighting for the people, for farmers. For this country, for farmers, we can sacrifice power. That’s why even if assembly elections are held today, Shiv Sena will win not less than 180 seats,” he said, surmising that in Marathwada, the Sena, which has 11 MLAs from the region, will win 35 out of 46 seats.
“In Maharashtra, only a Shiv Sena wave lasts…This is not a superficial wave. Sena has been working hard for the drought-affected people. In Parbhani, Jalna, Beed, we have been providing drinking water, fodder, and organising mass marriages to help farmers,” he said.
