Annamalai and Raj Thackeray
Credit: PTI Photos
The war of words between BJP leader K Annamalai and MNS chief Raj Thackeray intensified on Monday with the former daring Thackeray to stop him from entering Mumbai.
The row erupted after Thackeray mocked Annamalai referring him as "rasmalai" while criticising him for speaking on issues related to Mumbai. Annamalai had said that Mumbai is not a Maharashtra city but an international city.
Claiming that he received threats with some even threatening to chop off his legs, Annamalai said that he is not afraid of such threats.
“Who are Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important,” the former Tamil Nadu BJP president said at a press conference.
“Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai—try cutting my legs. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village. If I say Kamaraj is one of India’s greatest leaders, does it mean he is no longer a Tamil? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it? These people are just ignorant," he added.
Raj had earlier during a rally mocked Annamali saying, "One rasmalai came from Tamil Nadu...What is your connection to come here...Hatao lungi bajao pungi." He referred to late Bal Thackeray's popular slogan during the 1960s-1970s -- "Hatao lungi, bajao pungi".
The Thackeray brothers -- Uddhav and Raj -- have reunited for the Maharashtra civic polls, and they have been aggressively targeting BJP's "fake Hindutva".
Uddhav said he and Raj have buried their differences for the Marathi manoos, Hindus, and Maharashtra.
Reaching out to the core Marathi votebank, Raj said he and Uddhav have come together as Mumbai is facing "danger".