In stepped-up attack on friend-turned-foe BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday alleged the central government lacked courage to confront Pakistan on repeated ceasefire violations by that country and death of civilians in shelling along the Line of Control (LOC).
Launching a broadside on Modi, Uddhav said "Shiv Sena had a lion's share in making Narendra Modi the prime minister. People of Maharashtra will not succumb to the pressure from Modi who is now a shahenshah (emperor) of Delhi." Addressing rallies in the run up to October 15 assembly elections at Tirathpuri and Partur in Jalna district of Marathwada region, Uddhav said "the union government did not dare to ask Pakistan on repeated ceasefire violations and killing of Indians on LOC."
Training his guns on state unit BJP president Devendra Fadnavis and union minister Nitin Gadkari for "trying to divide Maharashtra", Uddhav appealed to people to "teach BJP a lesson by defeating it in the assembly elections." He reiterated his charge that BJP is trying to divide Maharashtra and separate Mumbai from the state.
However, Modi, who is leading BJP's election campaign in the state with his rallies, today said no power in the world can split Maharashtra and also separate Mumbai from it till he is in Delhi.
Uddhav also dismissed BJP's contention that the 25-year-old alliance between the two saffron parties lay asunder due to Sena staking claim for the post of chief minister.
"It is BJP which is responsible for the break-up. BJP wanted to divide Maharashtra and was demanding a separate Vidarbha state from Maharashtra," Uddhav said.
He also accused Congress and NCP--erstwhile partners in the Democratic Front government--of "ruining" the state under their watch. "Farmers are living in a miserable condition as they have no water, electricity and are debt-ridden," he added.
"Even though farmers were committing suicide, the then Congress-NCP government chose to look the other way and ignored the plight of farmers. Only Sena can bring relief to farmers and common people in the state," Uddhav added.
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