Devendra Fadnavis (L), Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray.
Credit: PTI Photos
Mumbai: Hours after the Thackeray family’s mega show of strength, with cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray sharing a platform after 20 years, the BJP hit out at them with popuar Hindi idiom, "Yeh public hai, sab janti hai".
However, it appeared that the saffron party's attack was largely directed towards Uddhav while Raj was left out of the criticism.
“Who has worked for the people, they know…yeh public hai, sab janti hai,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
On Raj’s jibe that Fadnavis has brought them together, the chief minister said: “I thank Raj Thackeray that he has credited me…Balasaheb Thackeray’s blessings are always with me.”
On Uddhav’s speech, he said: “I was told that it would be a victory meeting…Instead of Marathi he spoke on other things…how his government was toppled and so on…the speech appeared to be a 'rudali' (professional mourners)".
Former State BJP president and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that under the guise of Marathi pride, Thackeray spoke about how he lost power. “But why did he accept the report mandating Hindi from the first grade in 2022 while he was chief minister? He never answered that. 'Marathi language' is not just an identity that stands on emotions; it must be reflected in policies. But when you were in power in Mumbai, you sidelined the Marathi people. And now, to regain power, you are showing fake love for Marathi again.”
He said that it is clear from Uddhav’s speech that his real agenda is not 'M' for 'Marathi,' but 'M' for 'Municipal Corporation'! “His love for Marathi is nothing but a political stunt that surfaces when elections are near. The public has now recognized this hypocrisy,” he said.
Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said: “This is not for the language.. but a public appeal for the elections! With the municipal elections approaching, the panicked Uddhav Sena, scared of BJP, now remembers 'family ties'... The program in Worli today was a family bonding event to publicly appeal to the brother they had thrown out of the house. There was no love for the language or anything like that... and it doesn’t even matter to them!”
According to him, this is a desperate struggle to gain power in the municipality and to loot Mumbai again for the sake of power. “The handshake between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray is nothing but an attempt to win the family 'battle' because they fear losing the election!!,” he added.
“The Worli meeting is aimed at dividing Hindus and Marathi people. It can be equated with the rallies of AIMIM, PFI or SIMI. It will cause the biggest damage to Hindus in the state. It is an anti-Hindu rally,” said BJP leader and ports and fisheries minister Nitesh Rane.