Uddhav Thackeray criticized Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Chief Justice’s residence, questioning its timing amid ongoing legal disputes involving his party. He also raised concerns about democracy and political tensions in Maharashtra.
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MUMBAI: In a fiery address at a public rally in Vaijapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Uddhav Thackeray, the leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), took sharp digs at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the residence of the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Thackeray raised concerns about the timing of the visit, the ongoing legal battles concerning his party, and the state of democracy in India. His remarks come amid heightened political tensions in Maharashtra, where the ruling Mahayuti alliance has been critical of the former Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s policies, particularly regarding development projects in the region.
During his speech, Uddhav Thackeray pointed out that the visit of PM Modi to the residence of the Chief Justice of India attracted widespread criticism. In a sarcastic tone, he expressed his gratitude to the CJI for not giving a “next date” to Ganapati Bappa, suggesting that the Chief Justice might have been preoccupied with the Prime Minister’s visit.
“We all know that the PM visited the CJI’s residence, and the latter drew a lot of criticism from across the country over the visit. However, I would like to thank the CJI for not giving a ‘next date’ to Ganapati Bappa because PM Modi was coming to his home,”
-said Thackeray, emphasizing the symbolic nature of the visit and its political undertones.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister also highlighted concerns about the state of democracy in India and the slow pace of justice. Thackeray expressed his faith in the judiciary but also warned that if justice is delayed, the people themselves would serve as the ultimate court.
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“We are not only seeking justice from the court as Shiv Sena but also questioning whether democracy will endure in this country through our party’s efforts.”
-he asserted.
“We have confidence in the judiciary, but if timely justice is not served, we will turn to the larger court of public opinion for justice.”
-Thackeray added.
This reflects the frustration within the Uddhav-led faction of Shiv Sena (UBT) as their petition against Maharashtra Assembly Speaker’s decision to recognize Eknath Shinde’s faction as the “real Shiv Sena” has been pending for over two years in the Supreme Court.
The legal struggle between Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel faction led by Eknath Shinde, who broke away from Shiv Sena and formed a government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), remains unresolved. The Supreme Court has not yet delivered its verdict on the disqualification of the rebel MLAs or the legitimacy of the Shinde faction as the “real” Shiv Sena. The decision also led to the Uddhav faction losing the party’s iconic “dhanush-baan” (bow and arrow) symbol, which was handed over to the Shinde faction. The Uddhav group was instead given the “mashaal” (burning torch) symbol, a significant blow to its political identity.
Thackeray urged his supporters to rally around the new party symbol in preparation for the upcoming elections, anticipating that the Shinde faction would use the bow-and-arrow symbol to gain voter support.
“Previously, we did not have enough time to campaign with the ‘mashaal’ symbol. This time, we need to ensure this symbol reaches every household, as traitors will return with the ‘Dhanush-Baan’ symbol to seek votes in the assembly elections. I am unsure if it’s reasonable to expect a court decision before the polls.”
-said Thackeray, indicating his doubts over whether a legal decision would be made in time for the elections.
Amidst accusations from the ruling alliance that the MVA government neglected development initiatives like the Marathwada water grid project, Uddhav Thackeray refuted these claims. He affirmed that his government had allocated substantial funds for the ambitious water project, which aims to provide relief to drought-prone regions in Marathwada.
“They (opponents) are shouting that Thackeray govt did nothing. I released Rs 1,160 crore,”
-said Thackeray, firmly defending his administration’s actions during his tenure as Chief Minister.
The Marathwada water grid project has been a key focus for political leaders in the region. The project aims to create a sustainable water supply system, yet its progress has been hindered by political bickering and financial concerns. Thackeray stressed that the MVA government had indeed taken concrete steps to ensure the success of the project, contrary to the narrative being promoted by the current government.
Uddhav Thackeray did not limit his criticism to development projects; he also took a jab at the state government’s social welfare policies. One such policy is the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin’ scheme, which provides a monthly financial aid of Rs 1,500 to women beneficiaries. Thackeray argued that the sum offered was insufficient to make any significant difference in the lives of women struggling to run their households.
“Rs 1,500 is a meager amount, and many women are skeptical about how they can manage their households with this sum. The government is merely returning people’s own money but is taking undue credit for it.”
– he remarked, questioning the effectiveness of the initiative.