Uddhav Thackeray attacks BJP over farmer aid, Central Railway disruption

Launching a not so veiled attack on his ally and senior partner, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said the state government's aid did not reach farmers and, pointing to last week's disruptions and resultant commuter violence on Central Railway, questioned BJP's logic of "achche din".

On Monday, Uddhav admitted the state government, of which his party is a constituent with 10 ministers, was lagging behind in providing aid to distressed farmers and added that he will tour the state to see if the intended help was reaching them.

Sena mouthpiece Saamna, which has Uddhav as the editor and party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut as the executive editor, also attacked the railway ministry over the disruptions on CR. Railway minister Suresh Prabhu is a former Sena union minister who has since joined the BJP.

"It is true that there was an agitation... and this acquired a violent edge, but the police and officials do not speak about why commuters resorted to violence," said the editorial.

"The railway minister announced a scheme for SMS-based tickets. But if the train doesn't leave the platform despite taking a ticket, then people's anger will come out. If incidents like those during the Congress rule take place, the question is for whom exactly have these 'achche din' come?"

"Uddhav is attacking the BJP to deflect any likely anti-incumbency against the government in the future," said a Sena source. He added that the Sena could play a role similar to the one played by Congress allies in the UPA government — criticising the government while staying in power.