New Delhi:
In what appeared to be a looming specter of late Balasaheb Thackeray, his son and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray ripped through the Modi government over several issues while addressing the Shiv Sena’s annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in Central Mumbai on Saturday evening.
"Don't teach us patriotism. The day when we need to be taught patriotism hasn't come yet," said Thackeray.
Even as he asked Shiv Sainiks to refrain from making personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he did not spare the Prime Minister or the Central Government.
"We will organize more such agitations...But refrain from criticising prime minister Modi. No need to target one person for overall mess," he said.
On demonetisation he said, "An atmosphere was created that those who favour demonetisation are patriots and those who oppose it are traitors."
"Then who were the people who lost their lives waiting in queues (in front of banks)?" he asked.
Thackeray questioned the BJP on sharing power with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir even as he stressed on Shiv Sena’s strong belief in 'Hindutva' politics.
"In Kashmir, what ideological bond do you (BJP) share with the PDP? Why hasn't special status to Jammu & Kashmir been revoked yet?" Thackeray asked.
"We allied with the BJP for Hindutva when the word 'Hindutva' was taboo. If they (BJP) think we are of no use to them, we'll see (what should be our course of action)," Thackeray said.
"Let us know what is your definition of Hindutva?" he asked.
"We are not opposing the ban on cow slaughter, but what is that the BJP wants to achieve from it? We believe in the Hindutva defined by late Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who was quite practical about its exercise in daily life," he said.
"The BJP does not have consistency over the issues it is bringing up. It supports beef ban, but BJP chief minister (Manohar) Parrikar (in Goa) and newly inducted Union minister of state from Kerala K J Alphons contradict the party's line."
Raking up PM Modi's pet project of bullet train Uddhav said, "Who wants the bullet train? Improve rail infrastructure first."
"This government says GST brings uniform taxation. Where is the uniformity? Even Pakistan has cheaper petrol than us," Thackeray said.
In an indirect taunt at PM Modi he said, "If the history of India is written (now), I think we will see only one person's face alone. He will be there on 'Charkha' as well as on book covers."
