Don't take our support to BJP govt in Maharashtra for granted: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Asserting that his support to the BJP in Maharashtra should not be taken for granted, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said his party had joined the government to provide stability to the State, where no party had emerged clear winner in the October Assembly polls.

"Just because we are in Government, one should not draw the conclusion that we have surrendered. The day we feel that people's interest and welfare are not being taken care of, Shiv Sena will put its foot down," he maintained.

Uddhav was addressing party workers at Shanmukhanand Hall here at a function organised on the occasion of 89th birth anniversary of Sena founder Bal Thackeray. He said the Sena had not made any compromises while joining the BJP-led government and its support should not be taken for granted.

BJP ended its over two decades old alliance with Sena ahead of the October 15 Assembly polls, but none of them could secure clear mandate. However, political realism forced the two parties to come together after weeks of tug-of-war over portfolios and angry exchange of words.

Uddhav said his party's pet project of telemedicine would be launched in the State in the next few days.

"I want to give Shiv Sainiks a chance to serve the people," Uddhav said, referring to the project, where telecommunication and information technologies would be used to provide health care to people in far-flung areas.

Speaking on the issue of a memorial to Thackeray, the Sena chief said putting up a mere statue does not symbolise a commemorative structure which should be grand in nature.

"I will not request people to build a memorial. If it has to happen, it should happen on a grand scale."

Justifying the "ghar wapsi" (homecoming) programme of Hindutva outfits, Uddhav said there was nothing wrong in brining back people, who had been 'forcibly' converted to other religions, into Hindu fold.

"Ghar wapsi is not new. Even during Shivaji Maharaj's time, Netaji Palkar (a general in his army) was reconverted."

Uddhav said the BJP Government at the Centre should focus on "ghar wapsi" of Kashmiri Pandits (facilitating their return to native places in Jammu and Kashmir).

"It is easy to talk of repealing Article 370 and enacting Uniform Civil Code before elections. There is now a strong Government at the Centre. People of Jammu have wholeheartedly supported BJP so that these promises could be implemented," he said.