Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government and alleged there were moves to undercut the economic influence of Mumbai and make it into a "suburb of Gujarat."
On the day when the BJP withdrew from the Mehbooba Mufti-led alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, the Shiv Sena claimed that the BJP was likely to prepone the Lok Sabha elections to December. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray lashed out at the Narendra Modi-led government and alleged there were moves to undercut the economic influence of Mumbai and make it into a "suburb of Gujarat."
Speaking at the party's 52nd foundation day rally on Tuesday, Uddhav also accused the BJP of going soft on its agenda of Hindutva, and attacked NCP chief Sharad Pawar for trying to divide Maharashtrians on caste lines. Uddhav said the Shiv Sena would get its chief minister after next year's assembly polls.
"Power will come and go. But, we will not abandon Hindutva... or compromise our ideology and policies" said Uddhav, in a swipe at the BJP.
Welcoming BJP's decision to snap ties with the PDP, Uddhav questioned why did it have to be the martyrdom of 600 soldiers that made the party come to this realisation. In the past, the Sena has attacked the BJP for allying with the "pro-separatist" Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP). "We congratulate you for withdrawing support, but take similar steps to crush Pakistan," he urged.
Uddhav accused the Modi government of pursuing a soft policy on Kashmir by announcing a ceasefire during Ramzan. "It is easy to say terrorism has no religion. Then why was a ceasefire announced during Ramzan? Did Pakistan announce such ceasefires during Ganapati (utsav), Navratri, Diwali, Dusshera?" he asked.
Uddhav charged there were attempts to undercut Mumbai's influence as an economic centre by shifting activities to Ahmedabad and Delhi. "Maybe this is a plan to make Mumbai, which was acquired (by Maharashtrians) after spilling their blood, a suburb of Gujarat?" he alleged, pointing to projects such as the Mumbai-Baroda expressway and the Mumbai- Ahmedabad bullet train.
"We are not in favour of cow-slaughter, but just saving the cow is not Hindutva," said Uddhav.
Pointing to overtures by BJP president Amit Shah to Pawar, Uddhav claimed this is an indicator of Sena's base increasing.
Pointing to efforts to cobble up a front of "like-minded" parties against the BJP, Uddhav added this "like-mindedness" should not be restricted to joining hands for power but include an agenda to provide respite to people who feel let down by the present dispensation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Uddhav Thackeray")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}