Thackerays Come Together First Time in Decades

Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray on Saturday shared a platform for the first time after nearly 20 years. Addressing a joint “victory rally” to celebrate withdrawal of government orders to teach Hindi as a third language from class 1, both cousins hinted at possible alliance for the upcoming elections including the BMC. Giving a backhanded compliment to the Maharashtra chief minister, Raj said that by bringing him and Uddhav together, Devendra Fadnavis has managed what Balasaheb could not. Mr. Fadnavis also “thanked” Raj for giving him the credit, but lashed out against Uddhav. He accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief of not saying a word about Marathi in his speech and using the forum to “cry”.

The victory rally was also attended by NCP working president Supriya Sule. Thousands of Marathi speaking people joined the rally to listen to Thackeray cousins.

Starting his speech by giving credit to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for uniting him and Uddhav, the MNS chief said, “I and Uddhav have come together after 20 years. Even Balasaheb Thackeray and thousands of other people could not do it, but Devendra Fadnavis managed to bring us together.”

Slamming the BJP-led Mahayuti government over the alleged imposition of Hindi language, the MNS chief also said that the ruling parties might have power in the state assembly, but the Thackerays rule the streets. He also took potshots at Hindi speaking states including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. “Hindi speaking states are financially backward. The people are migrating to other states. If the Hindi language is so powerful, why have these states not progressed?” he asked.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief fiercely attacked the Maharashtra chief minister, who had warned that the government would not tolerate hooliganism over Marathi. “Yes, we are goons. If we have to do hooliganism for justice, we will do it,” he said.

Uddhav, the former chief minister of Maharashtra, asserted that he and Raj have “come together to stay together” indicating a possible alliance ahead of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which has been under control of the Thackeray family for the last 25 years. He also said that they do not need a lecture on Hindutva from others as they are committed to the ideology of Hindutva.

Mr. Fadnavis termed Uddhav’s speech as “Rudali” Darshan. The word “Rudali” refers to women hired to mourn publicly at funerals in some parts of the state of Rajasthan.

Speaking with the reporters at Pandharpur, the chief minister said, “Firstly, I want to thank Raj Thackeray for giving me the credit for reuniting the brothers. I must have received the blessings of Shraddheya Balasaheb Thackeray. I was informed it was supposed to be a ‘vijay’ (victory) rally, but it turned out to be a ‘rudali’ speech….Without uttering a single word about Marathi, the speech revolved around how their (Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA) government was toppled and how they wanted to come back to power. This was not a Vijay Utsav but a ‘nrudali’ darshan.”

Mr. Fadnavis also claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has not done any work in the last 25 years in the BMC to showcase before Mumbaikars. “Despite being in power for the last 25 years, they do not have any work to show. But, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have transformed Mumbai… People know everything,” he said.