Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday was uncharacteristically angry while refuting cousin, and MNS chief, Raj Thackeray’s recent allegations that the Sena no longer stood for the Marathi people.
Raj said this was clear from Uddhav having voted for a non-Marathi like BJP candidate Mahesh Jethmalani. To this Uddhav said he was only following Sena supremo Balasaheb’s orders.
“Raj is ungrateful,” Uddhav said. “He asked why I voted for Mahesh Jethmalani. I voted for him as per the orders of Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Shiv Sainiks and I follow the orders of only Balasaheb. Why should Raj be angry about that? When Raj was involved in the Ramesh Kini murder case, Balasaheb was in touch with Ram Jethmalani to save him from the case. Raj should understand that voting for Mahesh Jethmalani becomes a duty for a favour his father has done. But Raj is not grateful.”
Uddhav also called Raj a traitor. “The questions Raj has raised are laughable,” he went on. “He says the Sena adopted Sanjay Nirupam. He is right. But the Sena sacked him when it came to our notice that he was harming the Marathi people. But what about you, Raj? You grew in the company of Balasaheb and Masaheb; They are the inspiration for your Marathi agenda. So why did you become a traitor?” Uddhav asked.
“Two Marathi people are fighting and the enemies of Maharashtra are enjoying that. I do not like this,” Uddhav added. Raj asked whether Sena’s MP-candidates were Nepali. I want to ask him if Suresh Gambhir, Mohan Rawale and Gajanan Kirtikar were Bangladeshis that the MNS enabled their defeat; You stabbed your uncle in the back.”
Uddhav also commented on how Raj is a good mimicry artiste, who can recall dialogues from Hindi films quite easily. “On the one hand he bans [actor] Amitabh Bachchan, and on the other he mouths Bachchan’s dialogues. The Sena would never have tolerated such a volte-face,” Uddhav said.
“Raj has become an important person,” Uddhav said, sarcastically. “He says he will decide who will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. Have you become so important that you can now decide who will be the President of US or the monarch of Britain? What can I do apart from wishing you all the best.”
MNS general secretary Pravin Darekar, however, refused to comment on Uddhav’s statements. “Raj saheb has already made his position clear at a rally in Shanmukhananda Hall on Friday. There is nothing further to comment on,” he said.
Party insiders said Raj may respond to Uddhav’s statements. “Raj had alleged that the details of the Ramesh Kini murder were passed onto the police by Sena at the behest of Uddhav. By using this case to target Raj, Uddhav has proved that allegation was correct,” an MNS member said.
