Taking on his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for the first time this election season, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that those appealing to people not to vote for the Sena should also tell them who the alternative is.
Though he did not name Raj, Mr. Thackeray said, “I don’t really see anyone standing opposite me. We tell you to vote for us, but there are some who say don’t vote for us. Okay, don’t vote for us. But then whom will you vote for? If one should not vote for the Sena, BJP, RPI’s grand alliance, then can you tell us whom we should vote for? Are the Congress and NCP the ultimate examples of saintly culture? Had this been the case, would the people have kicked them on their backside in 2014?”
He was speaking at a public rally in Dharavi to campaign for the Sena’s candidate from Mumbai South Central.
The MNS chief has been addressing public rallies all over the State, appealing to people not to vote for the BJP-Sena alliance in the general elections. His rallies have been drawing huge crowds across the State, despite his party not fielding any candidate. Interestingly, Raj has never criticised the Sena or Mr. Thackeray in his rallies, and has kept the focus only on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.
“Tell us the reasons why we shouldn’t be voted back to power? Is it because we are teaching a fitting lesson to Pakistan?” he asked. He said the saffron alliance has Mr. Modi as a Prime Ministerial candidate, while the Opposition has no one.
Criticising the Congress, Mr. Thackeray alleged that despite Mumbaikars contributing almost 40% of the Centre’s tax collection, successive Congress governments have neglected the city’s needs. “We in the BMC constructed the dam providing water to Mumbai within four years. But it took 10 years to get permissions from the Central government. Mumbai never gets justice in speedy permissions to projects. We need a government at the Centre which will do that, and that government is ours,” he said.
Mr. Thackeray assured the audience that he would fulfil his promise to waive property tax on homes up to 500 sq.ft. “No one will receive a property tax bill. There are some who are saying [the promise] is not true. There could be some mistakes [in the plan]. Let me tell you, if there are issues, we will resolve them,” he said.
Referring to the serial blasts in Sri Lanka, Mr. Thackeray said Mumbaikars should remember the 26/11 attacks. “The Congress wants to remove the article on sedition. What will happen to terrorists who are caught in such attacks? Will the Congress keep on playing with Dawood if he is brought to India? The Congress panders to those who shout anti-India slogans. Even the Congressmen should think over this.”
