Uddhav targets Modi and BJP over demonetization, GST

Saying that the “acche din” was limited to government advertisements, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday targeted the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on multiple grounds including the demonetization drive and introduction of Goods and Service Tax.

Thackeray, who is one of the oldest and important allies of the BJP, said everything is being centralised. “The ‘achhe din’ are only in advertisements. Do we have true democracy in the country? It appears all affairs are going to be run as per the wishes of the Prime Minister? He is centralising power at the Centre, instead of decentralising it,” Thackeray, who turns 57 on 27 July, said in an interview to Saamana, the party mouthpiece, on the eve of his birthday.

To a question on what else is going on in the country, Thackeray shot back: “Fogg chal raha hai (referring to a perfume ad). According to him, the GST and demonetization are a mess and the common man had been affected.

This is the first attack by Thackeray on the government after last week’s Presidential elections – in which BJP-NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind was elected defeated Congress-led Opposition candidate Meira Kumar.

“We won't keep quiet. We were the first to point out how GST will hit the people. Now, they must decide whether to bear it beat it. See, in Gujarat small traders took to the streets opposing GST and they were mercilessly beaten up,” the Shiv Sena President said in the interview to Rajya Sabha member and Saamana Executive Editor Sanjay Raut.

“Is this a true democracy? Unlike the former Prime Minister, the late Rajiv Gandhi, who implemented Panchayati Raj right at the grassroots level," Thackeray said, adding: “I read today that 1.50 million people lost jobs directly due to demonetization, meaning six million (dependents) will suffer a hit. Who will provide for these six million their daily 'dal-roti'?"

When pointed out that if he speaks the truth, he would be branded as a traitor, he shot back: “….ask the people losing their jobs who the real 'traitor' is. I am not talking about Modi, but the government machinery. Whenever Shiv Sena speaks anything, it's considered 'anti-government'. But that is wrong, we are always with the people.”