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ShareUddhav Thackeray speaks out in an extensive and exclusive interview with CNN-IBN's Rajdeep Sardesai. Excerpts.
Rajdeep Sardesai: You started a campaign called Mee Mumbaikar against the North Indians. That campaign is being spearheaded by Raj and you have focused on Vidarbha, Marathwada, and farmers...
Uddhav Thackeray: If I speak of Mumbai, it has its own capacity. The glass of water will overflow if you fill it to the brim. That is Mumbai's situation.
Do you agree that there should be a permit system [for entry into Mumbai]? What's the difference between you and Raj?
The difference is that this was said by Balasaheb in 1966. We must accept it. Someone said to me your party is regional. I said to that person, it's regional but also original. We didn't steal ideas and issues from other parties.
But even you became anti-North Indian.
Not anti-North Indian. Every state has a government and a CM. Is it not the responsibility of that state government to take care of the welfare of its people? If the Bihar government performs, people won't leave.
So there isn't much difference between the two of you.
There isn't much difference. But there is one, I don't copy anyone and steal anyone's issues. I am taking forward my father's ideology.
Are you moving away from the ideology of violence that came to be associated with the Sena? Do you accept that the Sena made mistakes, the way riots took place?
How many riots did we organise? The 1992 riots, did we start them?
The Shiv Sena's image became that of a party of rioters. Are you trying to
change that?
It's not that the Shiv Sena never started riots. In 1992-93, the Shiv Sena saved Mumbai. Didn't North Indians also get saved in that? Did the Shiv Sena only save the Marathi manoos? When we donate blood, do we ask who is going to get it?
Will the Shiv Sena's flag fly high after the elections?
Yes, absolutely. I am touring the whole of Maharashtra. I was in Vidarbha's Gadhchiroli, Gondia, and Bhandara yesterday. Wherever I go, I see a wave.
You see a wave. But there is also a rebellion. Manohar Joshi's house was attacked.
We need to understand one thing. Rebellion happens in all parties. But they will not succeed, because people have decided that we have to change the government. Whoever comes now, they will not vote for them [the ruling alliance].
You say the people have decided to change the government. But isn't it true that when there is internal rebellion in an opposition party, it helps the ruling party?
This is exactly what the people have understood. If we break, then those whom they don't want will come back to power. That is why they won't do anything that helps the
Congress-NCP.
But in every seat in Mumbai-Thane, there is a three-way contest for the Marathi vote.
No, it is not being split. It's a Congress conspiracy. In the Lok Sabha elections, votes did get split in Mumbai, but it won't happen again.
Will Uddhav Thackeray become CM if the Shiv Sena wins?
The right answer is that even today the remote control is with Bal Thackeray.
Are you ready? People feel that you are really unlike Bal Thackeray. Your politics is different...
I don't shy away from my responsibilities. But I don't have a personal ambition, that I want this or that. I am doing my work for Maharashtra. But I am also a son and it's my duty to keep my father happy.
Who is the true heir of Balasaheb's legacy, Raj or Uddhav?
Neither of us is the true heir. The Marathi manoos is the true heir of Balasaheb's legacy. But the Marathi manoos is not benefiting since his vote is getting divided.
It is a question of ideology. Balasaheb has spent his entire life working for Maharashtraand the Marathi manoos. He took up the cause of Hindutva. I have promised him that you give us your blessings and I just need you to address one rally, which will be the victory rally. We will celebrate Dussehra that day.
Your opponents say Uddhav is not as strong as Bal Thackeray, your nature is not like Balasaheb. People used to be scared by his name...
People are still scared of him. He is my father, but that doesn't mean I adopt his style. Just adopting someone's style doesn't make you the true heir. You have to take forward their ideas.
