Congress, NCP have turned Maharashtra into desert, says MNS chief Raj Thackeray

After making a scathing attack on the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his first Rally, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray took a dig at the Congres-NCP alliance on Tuesday, saying they have turned Maharashtra into a desert despite visiting Israel to see how farming is done.

Addressing his second rally in Amravati, Thackeray said, "Farmers are committing suicide in Maharashtra and our former Chief Minister Prithviraj chavan was displaying banners saying we are number one. We are number one in what? Crime, rape, irrigation scams, corruption."

However, by saying that if complete mandate is given to him, he will lead the state, Thackeray has shown his wish to become chief minister.

Earlier, Thackeray had declared that he would contest the assembly polls, but later had backed out saying it is not in the blood of Thackerays to contest elections as they cannot think of just one constituency.

Also Read: Maharashtra assembly polls: Raj Thackeray too hits out at BJP, calls it a termite

 

Refering to Ajit Pawar's statement about urinating in a dam, which the deputy chief minister had made when Maharashtra was reeling under severe drought, Thackeray slammed the public for behaving like puppets at the hands of politicians and for just laughing at their statements instead of reacting. He said, "The public just enjoys statements and comments made by politicians, but no one reacts. This is why the same politicians come to you for votes again after five years."

Stating that over the years elections are being contested over the same issues, Thackeray said, "Leaders from Maharashtra go to Israel to see the farming done there, but they have turned Maharashtra into desert. The world is moving ahead and in the last 60 years, we could not even build toilets for women."

Once again attacking migrants from other states, Thackeray said, "Outsiders coming to Maharashtra get salaries around Rs 20,00-25,000 and Maharashtrian youths in rural areas are struggling to get jobs. Once MNS is in power, all the jobs that are generated in the state will have the right only of Marathi and Maharashtrian people."

Attacking the state government over the death of four youths during police recruitment drives, he said, "Hundreds of youths had come for police recruitment to Mumbai. But the state government did not even bother to make water and food arrangements for them. Rather than call all youths to Mumbai, why can't the recruitment be done in the respective districts, he questioned.

Requesting people to visit his 'vision' (blue print) for the state, Thackeray said, "Schemes for farmers, youths, police, employment generation and roadways are ready with me. If the verdict is given in my favor, I will do what you want."