Ahead of the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation (NWMC) polls due on 11 Oct, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing a rally at Nanded said challenged its ruling ally BJP in Maharastra to resign and face mid-term polls.
Shiv Sena is an ally of BJP in Maharashtra, though for quite sometime ut has been openly criticising and opposing the party and had also indicated that the party might break its alliance. During his speech, attacked the ruling government both at the state and the centre. He took a jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent tour to Gujarat, significantly just 2 months ahead of the assembly polls due in Dec.
Modi was on a two-day tour to Gujarat which ended on Sunday. This was the first visit of Modi since he assumed office as the CM. He questioned that why is it on;y 2 months before the polls that the Prime Minister was reminded to visit his hometown. “I was watching the news on television. Saw the PM campaigning for Gujarat polls that are two months away. How did he suddenly remember his school today after being in power for three years? Did he not feel like visiting his school ever before? Why just before the polls?” he questioned.
He also attacked the Devendra Fadnavis government saying that even if there was a Modi wave flowing across the nation, it was the Shiv Sena’s alliance that helped BJP to win in Maharashtra. He dared the ruling government in the state to resign and face the mid-term polls so that they would realise the power of Shiv Sena. “I challenge you (the BJP) to resign from the government and face polls once again. We will show you the might of the Shiv Sena. Even during the (Modi) wave, BJP got votes in the name of Sena,” Thackeray said.
Talking about his father, late Bal Thackrey he said that he is following the teachings of his father, who said that never tell a lie to people or wear a mask. He further attacking the Fadnavis government said that they were scared of speaking out in open and hence said that invisible hands were supporting the BJP. Uddhav said that the Sena does not know how to hide and work therefore they openly opposed to what they thought was not right.
He also highlighted that the Maharashtra Chief Minister during the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation polls had promised a huge financial package but failed to fulfil his promise and the people know nothing about the promised package.
“We do not know how to hide and work. We openly criticise if something is wrong. Sharad Pawar’s NCP may continue to remain the invisible hands supporting you,” he said.
Attacking the Modi government over the failure in implementation of GST, Thackeray mocked the comment made by Modi. He said that “You (the PM) are making an announcement that you have given a Diwali gift to the people by slashing GST rates. Come here to Nanded and visit the homes of farmers. You will know if it is Diwali or ‘Diwala’ (poverty) for them.”
After the GST Council meeting, few changes were made in the GST rules, bringing in some relief to the small and medium-size enterprises and traders and Modi had announced that the Diwali had come earlier for the people this year.
He further criticised the decision of demonetisation of Modi, questioning that how many rich people stood in the lines outside the ATM when the old currency was banned. He further added that “Lakhs of people lost their jobs but terrorism did not cease. Farmers lost their money kept in cooperative banks.”
He also pointed out the problems faced by the farmers saying the Modi government talked about the development of the nation but the farmers in Maharashtra are not even getting enough electricity due to lack of coal. He said that the farmers are also under debt and the government is not doing anything to improve the condition of them.
During the speech, he also questioned the gathering if any of them wanted to vote for a government that ordered lathi charge on women students at Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh when they complained about eve teasing.