The Shiv Sena was scathing in its criticism of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Mumbai for all’ remark, insisting that Mumbai is not a guesthouse of the country. The party also did not spare Home Minister P. Chidambaram, hitting out at the minister for his assurance of security for foreign players
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come under severe criticism from the Shiv Sena over his “Mumbai for all” remark, with Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray calling Mr. Gandhi “totally frustrated”. He said the Sena would not tolerate anything spoken against “Marathi pride.”
“The ‘Prince of Congress’ is totally frustrated and it is in this frustration he has insulted Marathi people and Maharashtra,” Mr. Bal Thackeray said in his party mouthpiece, ‘Saamna’.
The Sena leader said Mumbai was not a “dharamshala” (guest house) of the country that “anyone comes to Mumbai, spits here and leaves.”
Conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra
Terming the debate on “Mumbai for all Indians” a conspiracy to separate the city from Maharashtra, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said his party would never let it happen.
“Why is there a sudden controversy over Mumbai when nothing has happened here? It is a conspiracy to separate the city from Maharashtra and we would never let it happen,” Mr. Thackeray told reporters here on Wednesday.
On who was trying to separate the city from the state, he blamed the Congress. “No one should think that the Sena has softened its stand on Mumbai. We would take to the streets to save Mumbai and to keep Maharashtra united,” he said.
He also opposed the idea of separate Vidarbha and said the agitation was intended to weaken the state.
Questioning the timing of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Mumbai scheduled later this week, Mr. Thackeray said, “What is the need for this visit now? There may be elections in Bihar, but we will not tolerate anything spoken against Mumbai and Marathi pride.”
Hits out at Chidambaram
Criticising Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his statement assuring foreign players’ security during the ensuing Indian Premier League matches, the Shiv Sena leader asked, “Is he the Home Minister of India or of Pakistan?” “If Chidambaram wants to protect Pakistani players, he should go to Pakistan,” Mr. Thackeray added.
He asked senior leaders in the Congress to advice Rahul Gandhi over the Mumbai issue. “Rahul’s babble about Mumbai should stop and senior Congress leaders should explain the issue to him,” he said.
Mr. Thackeray lashed out at Chief Minister Ashok Chavan for not favouring Marathi people and changing his stand on issuing licences to taxi drivers. “I am ashamed of the Chief Minister who cannot speak in favour of Marathi when every other chief minister talks about his state’s pride,” he said.
On Pakistani player and relative of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, Javed Miandad’s visit to the Sena chief’s residence in 2004, Uddhav said it was true. “Miandad had come to request Thackeray Sr. to allow Pakistani players to play here. But Thackeray refused. Even an official from Pakistan High Command had also come for the same. We did not oblige anyone,” he said.
Backing the party activists’ protest against Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming movie My Name is Khan, Mr. Thackeray said, “Shah Rukh made a mistake by speaking in favour of Pakistani players while even Union Sport Minister M.S. Gill had also opposed the country playing with them after the 26/11 attacks.”
