Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray greets the gathering during a joint rally in Mumbai
Credit: PTI Photo
Thane: The Thackeray brothers took their attack against prime minister Narendra Modi and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani further with Uddhav saying that the “BJP’s loot is bigger than what the Britishers did” while Raj pointed out that the government favouring just one businessman is not a good trend for India.
Uddhav, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and Raj, the MNS president, addressed an election rally on Monday night in Thane, the bastion of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is now the Shiv Sena chief leader.
“The two persons from Gujarat (Modi and his aide and union home minister Amit Shah)….the BJP’s loot is bigger that what the Britishers did in India,” said Uddhav, a former chief minister whose Maha Vikas Aghadi government was toppled by BJP with the help of Shinde.
“I can tell you, the BJP of yesteryears is dead,” he said in a scathing attack on the current BJP leadership. “The BJP of today now believes in use and throw,” he said and recalled how late Balasaheb Thackeray helped Modi, when as Gujarat chief minister, he was facing the crisis.
Describing Shinde as ‘gaddar’ (traitor), he lashed out at the alleged corruption during the regime of the Maha Yuti. “These gaddars will come and go…we have come here for you…we have come together for you,” he said.
“The state BJP contributed in PM Cares Fund…where is the money…they should tell about the money before making any charges of corruption during the Covid-19 epidemic against me when I was saving Mumbai (as the chief minister)…when I was saving Mumbai, there were corpses on Ganga river,” thundered Uddhav.
On the other hand, Raj pointed out that he is not against any industrialists or any particular industrialists. “Yes, they must all grow bigger…not just one,” he said referring to Adani and his group’s growth trajectory during 2011-2025.
“After our rally in Shivaji Park (in which I spoke about Adani Group) these people pulled out a photo of Gautam Adani with me…he had come to my house…several industrialists have come to my home…Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Anand Mahindra…several others,” he said, adding: “It took Tatas and Birlas 50 to 100 years to reach a position where they have reached today…and see in just 11 years where he has reached.”
Speaking further, he said: “Today, Adani is in cement, iron, and he controls airports, ports.” Referring to the IndiGo crisis: “See the issue involving IndiGo…it commanded 60 per cent of traffic and they took people to ransom…what may happen if one company command so many things…this is not a good trend,” he said and accused Adani Group of taking over projects at “gun-point”.
Raj also played a video after the Adani Group formally acquired the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from GVK. “After it happened, there was garba in the Mumbai airport…why not dhol-lezim…in Mumbai if anything has to happen, it should be dhol-lezim,” he said.