Exempt loans of hailstorm-affected Marathwada farmers: Uddhav Thackeray to Narendra Modi

Asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfill his promise of exempting loan amounts for hailstorm-affected farmers of Marathwada region, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday continued to criticise former ally BJP for breaking their 25-year-old alliance soon after coming to power in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing a rally in Marathwada’s Parbhani district, Uddhav Thackeray said, “During the Lok Sabha elections, farmers from Marathwada and Vidharbha region stood behind the Mahayuti (grand alliance). Today even though we have broken the alliance, I request Narendra Modiji to keep his words of exempting the loan amount of hailstorm-affected poor farmers. During the Kashmir floods, the Prime Minister went there and helped the people. Now I want him to give justice to the people of Marathwada region by exempting their dues.”

Remembering senior BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Pramod Mahajan, who were a thread between the alliance, he said, “BJP was willing to get the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) into the NDA, but me and Mundeji along with other grand alliance partners opposed it. Arguments between Sena-BJP used to happen even when Munde and Mahajan were with us, however, we never stressed it to such a level that it would break. Gopinath Munde was a person who would keep his words, but now everything has become like a game of chess.”

Thackeray also questioned, “Has the BJP which says ‘Chattrapatincha Aashirvad – Chalo Modi Ke Saath’ – With the blessings of Chhatrapati ​Shivaji – come join Modi) ever celebrated Shiv Jayanti? How can we bend before Delhi (the Modi government), when they have never bent before Chattrapati?”

But extending support to BJP’s Panjaka Munde, he said, “from whichever constituency Pankaja is contesting, she should win the polls, but in rest of the seats only we will win the elections.”

Taunting the BJP, Thackeray said, “Along with the BJP, the Shiv Sena is also growing and if this was not the case, people would have not have gathered for Sena’s rally on a large scale. Shiv Sena is not a party which was born out of some other party and over the decades it is growing by leaps and bounds.”

Attacking the Congress-NCP he said, “Both the parties have looted the state over the years. Through advertisements, the Congress is saying that they are No.1 — the problem of water is solved, women are safe and secure. But if the same amount spent on advertisements had been spent on development, people would have gathered for Congress’ rallies, too.”

Promising to reduce the burden of books that students have to carry, he said, “I promise to give you a tab, which will have all your subjects pre-loaded. College students, who fail to make it to Mumbai colleges can take admission in any local college and they will be taught from Mumbai through video-conferencing. They will also get a degree from Mumbai University.” he added.

Meanwhile, Thackeray also invited members of the Muslim community to be with the Sena. He said, “Every Muslim staying in the country are our brothers, but if a person like Owaisi is going to spread hatred and think of Pakistan and Bangladesh, we will not allow it.”

However, requesting people to not get lured by money offered during the elections, Thackeray said, “In the next couple of days, money will flood from all sides. But that money will last for a short period. For the last 25 years, Parbhani has been the battle ground of the Sena and I believe that even this time you will give an opportunity to the Sena. I have come here with a scheme and I am showing you what I am going to do. I will deliver the promise I have made to you as I want to develop the state.”