By Quaid Najmi Mumbai 23rd August : Making his debut in the public spotlight after recovering for more than three months following an operation on the hip, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray is once again prepared to fly through the political sky, beginning with the upcoming elections for the civic sphere in the state.
With his signature ‘perpetually angry look Raj Thackeray snapped the whip of his party’s workers and leaders, bashing them in order to appear by the masses to grab attention and climb onto the center-stage of state politics, where the 16-year old MNS is marginalized but occasionally appearing in the media too.
At the same time, he made efforts to claim the heritage of his famous uncle, the late Balasaheb Thackeray who founded the Shiv Sena, currently led by his ex-Chief Minister and estranged cousin Uddhav Thackeray.
Without naming any names, he took potshots at his cousin and the present government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP’s version of Hindutva and presented a the complete progress report of several previous agitations that have ensured that the MNS cadres on the move.
Disappointed by the recent political turmoil, such as the demise of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) regime in June, Raj Thackeray said: “This is not a political issue.it’s an interim financial adjustment, with the voters left in a state of confusion as to who is with whom.”
On prior discussions of his snapping of ties with Shiv Sena (2005), Raj Thackeray declared that his departure should not be compared with the exit of Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane or Eknath Shinde who walked in to join other political parties.
“I have left Shiv Sena on a positive note, having informed Balasaheb Thackeray.
He had called and embraced me, and told me ‘Okay I’m leaving now’.I did not go out and shout ‘treason’ or back-stabbing’.
Then, I built another political party (MNS) by gaining your trust,” Raj Thackeray said insisting that the MNS must continue to grow and establish its own political footprint in the state.
In a discussion on the subject of “political treachery,” the MNS chief stated that in the past there was a clear agreement between Balasaheb Thackeray and the BJP that whatever side (Shiv Sena or BJP) had more seats would be awarded the post of CM.
Shrugging at Uddhav Thackeray’s assertions of the BJP not delivering on its pledge to share the post of CM following the 2019 Assembly elections, Raj Thackeray wondered “how the Shiv Sena requested the CM’s position when BJP gained more MLAs and what type of agreement that was reached in the four walls?”
“I do not care about symbols or names.I am a follower of the teachings of Balasaheb as well as the legacy of his ideas that I will share,” he said on Shiv Sena’s current battles with the Shinde Group, a rebel group.Shinde Group.
In a reference to Hinduism, he proclaimed that “Hinduism is an approach to life of living.It is still practiced now in the nation, observing our customs, celebration of festivals in the same way as they have been throughout thousands of years, and women even today wear bindis-saris”.
Further elaborating, Raj Thackeray said: “The country was invaded numerous times in the past by the likes of Mahmud Ghazni as well as the Mughals and the British however, we kept our Hinduism in its entirety.If it was just a religion then it’d have been destroyed many years ago.”
In a balance act, Raj Thackeray said he supported the former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for’speaking her mind’.he also praised Iqbal’s cult patriotic song “Saare Jahanase Achha, Hindustan Hamara” (1904), noting that the Muslim poet could address the nation by the name ‘Hindustan’ whereas we insist on calling her Bharat or ‘India’.
In response to the frequently-repeated claims that the MNS is involved in agitations, and then snuffs them out Raj Thackeray referred to two recent ones, the battle against mosque loudspeakers, and the associated Hanuman Chalisa call, which was preceded by an anti-toll campaign.
“Both were a huge success.Now 95% of the loudspeakers that are atop mosques are either silent or on low decibels.In fact, the Muslim community has been awed by this.” Raj Thackeray claimed.
Similar to that, he claimed that the (2014) campaign to end toll-plazas in the state was a success and that 65 were closed however “nobody would dare to ask the government – regardless of which party is in the powerhouse about the remaining toll collection stations and what happens with all the money collected there every day and where it is used”.
Raj Thackeray then asked his party members to “go out and be visible by the general public, and let there be signs everywhere make contact with people and persuade people to become members of MNS.The masses are watching us, and we need to approach them”.
He also urged ordinary people to get “involved in politics which affects every element” of life like water supply electric power taxation, food and more.
Contrary to what was expected, in his first meeting in almost three months Raj Thackeray stayed clear of disclosing his plans regarding the possibility of forming an alliance with Shinde Group or the BJP or Shinde Group, or if he will continue to pursue the political until all by himself.
(Quaid Najmi can be reached via [email protected])
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