Attacking the opposition, Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that he should not be forced to go after them. In an interview with Shiv Sena spokesperson Saamana, Thackeray’s warning comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) action against Sena lawmaker Pratap Sarnaik.
Thackeray, who completed a year in office Friday, said he is “keeping an eye out” for political developments in the state. He said that in the country the central agencies are misused and the way in which families are attacked shows a “vindictive” opposition policy (party in the state).
The CM, in the interview with Sena leader and Saamana executive editor Sanjay Raut, spoke on a variety of topics, from the Mumbai civic polls, to his family’s goal in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, “love jihad “, the case of Anvay Naik and the performance and plans of the state government.
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Thackeray said he does not want to resort to vindictive policies. He said he “energizes” when he is “challenged.” “We do not want to get into vengeful politics but if they force us, we will use the Sudarshan chakra [mythological weapon] against your revenge, “he said.
“I am closely following all the developments. If I am quiet or restricted, it does not mean that I am not a man. The way in which people’s families and children are attacked is not in keeping with the culture of Maharashtra. Those who are aimed at families and children should remember that even they have families. They are not clean… Not only the government, but also the people of Maharashtra will definitely resist such a vindictive policy, ”he said.
In a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Interior Minister Amit Shah, Thackeray said others should remember the cases against him and how Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray supported [PM] Modi.
“Practice politics as it should be. If you are going to misuse power, you must remember that power does not last forever. They even faced cases before, and they must remember how Shiv Sena’s boss saved them, “he said, adding that the” real power “is the people, who are with them.
Responding to a question about the Opposition’s criticism that the CM is simply asking people to wash their hands regularly, Thackeray said: “Right now, I am only asking that they wash their hands … if that attack go on, I’ll go after them. “
When asked how he felt when his family was attacked in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, Shiv Sena’s boss said: “Those who have families and children should look in the mirror once. Don’t force us to take that step. If I go after you … I don’t want to lower myself to that level. “Thackeray’s son and Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray was indirectly linked to the SSR case by some members of the BJP and a campaign was created on the networks social to attack him.
Speaking about the Rajput’s death and the controversy that followed, Thackeray said: “I view the whole issue with pity. This is a tendency to profit from the dead. These people are not worthy. A child lost his life and they are politicizing him. It is a dirty and perverted policy ”.
Raut also inquired about Anvay Naik’s suicide complicity case in which Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami is one of the defendants. Thackeray criticized the former BJP government for sweeping the case under the rug. “A Marathi businessman was misled by outsiders. He died by suicide and wrote a note. You push the case under the rug and those who call for a new investigation, you make ED run after them. Do you want us to turn a blind eye? he said, referring to Sarnaik, who demanded the case be reopened.
Attacking the BJP over the issue of interreligious marriages, Thackeray said the alliance of different political ideologies works for BJP, but not the marriage between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl. Instead of the politics of ‘love jihad’, why shouldn’t the concept be applicable in politics? They [BJP] they oppose a Muslim boy marrying a Hindu girl. So how did you do [BJP] Do you have an alliance with Mehbooba Mufti or Nitish Kumar or Chandrababu Naidu? The alliance with different political parties with different ideologies works for you, isn’t this ‘love jihad’? ” he said.
In response to the demand that the Maharashtra government enact a law against interfaith marriages, Thackeray said: “We can enact a law, but first tell us when [central government] will introduce a law against the slaughter of cows? Why don’t you enact a law in Goa, do you have a government there? Enforce it from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, ”he said.
On continuing criticism that Sena had abandoned the Hindutva ideology by allying with the NCP and Congress, Thackeray said it is not loincloth to change. “Hindutva is not a dhoti (loincloth) to change. It is in our blood and in our veins. I follow the concept of Hindutva of my father and my grandfather. They said we don’t want a [temple] By ringing the Hindutva bell, we want a Hindutva that ends terrorists and my father proved it in 1992-93. When no one came forward to accept the Babri demolition, they did. Ram Mandir happened because of the court’s decision. No political party should take credit, ”Thackeray said.
Thackeray added that he does not consider Sena’s biggest political fight to be the BMC election in 2022. He said no one can uninstall the party’s saffron flag that has flown over the BMC for the past three decades. “I don’t think it is possible for anyone to remove the saffron flag. I know that my Mumbaikar has been behind us for the last 25-30 years and will continue to be. They can try, but Mumbaikars will not bring anyone closer to the saffron flag, ”Thackeray said.
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