MUMBAI: On a day when the Congress launched an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over demonetisation, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray joined in saying the real impact of the Centre’s move would be clear on February 23, when the poll verdict will be out.
“Yes, I too suffered because of demonetisation. Over 200 people died in lines outside banks after demonetisation. It affected me for sure. I do care for people, unlike you,” Mr. Thackeray said, targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his election campaign rally in Goregaon.
The Sena chief said soldiers survived on the border despite taking bullets, but the same soldiers died in a queue after demonetisation. “It was demonetisation, but now it is time to ban the BJP,” he said.
Taking on the BJP over its agenda of transparent administration, Mr. Thackeray referred to the Centre’s report that placed Mumbai on top of the list. “But where is your Nagpur? Why isn’t it even mentioned in the report? You (BJP) swallowed all the money in Nagpur, which was not possible in Mumbai. Is this the reason why you are talking against us?” he asked.
Asking the BJP to not get personal, he warned against playing with the tiger. “You won’t even know when it pounces on you,” he said.
In the final part of his interview to party mouthpiece Saamana , Mr. Thackeray claimed his party is functioning as a corrective force by being part of governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra to control ‘anti-people policies’.
“We have seen that if power is not controlled, it becomes uncontrollable. Being in the government we tried to keep (the BJP) in control,” Mr. Thackeray said. “While being a part of the government, Sena opposed many policies that were anti-India and anti-people and today, those policies are stuck. Be it the Land Acquisition Bill or the GST Bill, we compelled them to make necessary amendments,” he said
He said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi chooses to hold an election rally in the city for the BMC polls, Shiv Sainiks will go and respectfully invite him to be a part of Sena’s victory celebrations on February 23. “Modiji had to conduct 23 rallies in the State during the Assembly polls to win. This time, even if he comes, the Sena will win. We want him to be a part of our celebrations,” he said.
Mr. Thackeray said the alliance with the BJP was over during the 2014 Assembly polls. “They had deceived us in the name of talks. The Lok Sabha polls had just finished then, there was a ‘Modi wave’ but no demonetisation. So they [BJP] thought the Sena would not get more than 15-20 seats. But we proved them wrong by winning 63 seats,” he said.
Reacting to Mr. Thackeray’s comments, MPCC secretary Al Nasser Zakaria alleged the Sena chief is indulging in ‘white lies’ and it is the ‘sweetness of power’ that keeps him glued to it. “It is absurd of him to say he is doing the job of the Opposition parties. He thinks he can indulge in white lies and people will listen quietly. The truth is that the sweetness of power will keep him glued to it and they will not withdraw support despite being shamed every day by the BJP.” — With PTI inputs
