Uddhav says necessary for him and Raj to come together to fight for ‘Marathi manoos'
In the second and last part of his interview with Saamana's executive editor and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut published in the Sena (UBT) mouthpiece on Sunday, the former state chief minister also said that on the issue of alliance, the Congress expressed an opinion that it will take a decision at the local level.
'If that is the case, it will happen that way,' he said. The Congress is a constituent of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) along with the Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP).
Elections to various local and civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are likely to be held later this year.
Uddhav Thackeray said he is ready to do anything for the Marathi language, Maharashtra 'dharma' and 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi people).
If anyone has an issue with him and Raj coming together, then it is their problem, he maintained. To a question on 'Marathi manoos' coming together on the issue of Marathi, Thackeray said, '(Marathi manoos) should come together because whom are we fighting for? The Marathi manoos.' The buzz of rapprochement between the estranged cousins gained traction after the two addressed a mega victory rally earlier this month to celebrate the government's rollback of the two contentious GRs on introducing Hindi for students of classes 1 to 5 in the state under the three-language formula.
Uddhav said now the two cousins can call each other and also meet, and there is no problem in it. He asserted the Thackerays meet everyone openly.
Asked about the MVA and the alliance in the local body polls, he said, 'It's their (Congress) business. There was a discussion with the Congress and they were of the opinion that they will take a decision at the local level. Fair enough. If that is the case, it will happen that way.' Every party has its unit at the civic body level, Uddhav Thackeray noted.
'We will do what the parties (in the MVA) think is politically appropriate for them,' he added.
Uddhav also commented on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recently referring to Sangh ideologue late Moropant Pingley's remarks about stepping aside at the age of 75.
Speaking at the release of a book on the late RSS ideologue, Bhagwat had said, 'Pingley once said…if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should step aside and make way for others.' Uddhav said it is BJP's internal matter to decide who will succeed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 75 in September.
'They may have found an answer to this and may be that is why Bhagwat spoke,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
Fake seeds: BJP urges Karnataka govt to file criminal case
Bengaluru: Accusingthe ruling Congress of 'failing' Karnataka, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Sunday urged the Siddaramaiah-led government to file a criminal case and take strict action against companies that are supplying fake seeds and fertilisers to farmers. He said a police vigilance team should be formed to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers. Vijayendra later also said that BJP's farmers' wing will hold a state-wide protest on Monday, as he accused the state government of creating 'artificial shortage' of urea in various parts of the state because of its 'mismanagement', leading to 'panic' among farmers. He also alleged that brokers and traders hold stocks. The BJP chief was responding to reports about fake seeds and fertilisers being supplied to farmers in some parts of the state, and protests by farmers in various places alleging a shortage in the supply of urea. 'The efforts to trouble the food-providing farmers and exploit them within the system have been ongoing for a long time. Companies supplying fertilizers and seeds are engaging in the despicable act of sabotaging agricultural activities by providing fake seeds to the enthusiastic farming community that is expecting a good harvest in the backdrop of a promising monsoon this time,' Vijayendra said. 'I urge the government to file a criminal case against such companies in this regard and take strict action, and also to take all necessary measures to ensure that the farming community gets quality seeds and necessary fertilizers in a timely manner,' he said in a post on 'X'. Vijayendra said, in this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, along with agricultural incentive schemes, had taken precautionary measures to protect farmers. 'The state government too needs to take committed steps in this regard, so that the lives of farmers are not affected,' he said. To strengthen the Agriculture Department and to take strict action against the networks that cheat farmers, a police vigilance team should be formed, the BJP leader said. Later speaking to reporters here, Vijayendra said, monsoon started early and even though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy were aware, the proper stocking and timely supply of fertilisers to various districts were not ensured, leading to shortage. Alleging that an artificial shortage has been created despite the central government having given sufficient quantities of urea to the state, he said, more than 8,70,000 metric tonnes of urea had been received by Karnataka from the Centre, but only about 5, 30,000 metric tonnes is available in the market. 'What about the rest? The fear is that somewhere there is some kind of hand-in-glove. Brokers and traders are keeping the stocks; it has to be released. The state government is trying to create an artificial shortage. This will not help farmers and that's the reason farmers are upset,' he said Targeting the Congress government, citing media reports about farmers' protest against urea shortage, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka said, the government should have been alert and paid attention towards ensuring storage of necessary amount of fertilizer and its timely distribution, when the monsoon arrived a month in advance this time. Instead, those in the government completely neglected the farmers in the heat of factional fights for power or chair, Ashoka said in a post on 'X'. 'The curse of the farmers will affect this Congress government,' he added.
Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM: Karnataka ranks number one in per capita income among states
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday asserted that 'due to the implementation of the five guarantee schemes by our government, Karnataka has become number one in the country in terms of per capita income'. He also claimed that BJP leaders do not understand economics. He was speaking at the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of various development works and a beneficiaries' meeting held in the Arasikere Assembly constituency. 'Karnataka is now ranked number one in the country in terms of per capita income. The main reason for this is the increased purchasing power of the people. And the increase in purchasing power is a direct result of our guarantee schemes. BJP leaders don't understand economics. That's why they're spreading false propaganda claiming that the state government has no money for development. Even if they try to mislead the people with politically motivated lies, the people of Karnataka will not be fooled,' CM Siddaramaiah asserted. He said that in the government's performance review meetings, lakhs of beneficiaries had come forward to express their gratitude, which proved that the Congress government had delivered on its promises. He further explained that while Rs 1.20 lakh crore had been allocated for developmental projects, Rs 56,000 crore was being spent on guarantee schemes to deliver development directly to people's doorsteps. Speaking about the national-level conference of backward communities held in Delhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had clearly expressed his understanding of the issues faced by backward communities. He stated that the Congress government had formulated programs for the uplift of Backward Classes, women, Dalits, the oppressed, and the poor from all castes. CM Siddaramaiah stated that Congress was the only party that designed and implemented programmes aimed at achieving social justice, uplifting the poor, and upholding the values of the Constitution. He challenged the BJP to look at history and see that only the Congress had consistently worked to implement social justice, both in the state and at the national level. He praised local Arasikere MLA Shivalingegowda, saying he was focused on both carrying out people-centric development works in the constituency and presenting the party and government's pro-people initiatives effectively in the Legislative Assembly. Expressing confidence, he said that Shivalingegowda, already elected four times, will definitely win again in the next election.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Discuss Operation Sindoor by rising above partisan politics: Mayawati
The first week of disruption in Parliament's Monsoon Session is set to give way to a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor from Monday Press Trust of India Lucknow Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati said the discussion on Operation Sindoor, starting in Parliament on Monday, should be approached by both the ruling alliance and the opposition by "rising above partisan politics". The first week of disruption in Parliament's Monsoon Session is set to give way to a fiery debate on the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor from Monday as the ruling alliance and the opposition prepare to lock horns over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives. The BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition parties are expected to field their top guns during the discussion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. "The discussion on 'Operation Sindoor' starting in Parliament today should be approached by both the ruling party and the opposition by rising above partisan politics," Mayawati posted on X in Hindi. "Going forward, the government and the opposition should work together under a solid strategy to ensure that no woman's sindoor is wiped away and no mother has to lose her son; this is also the demand of the time," the BSP chief added in the same post. Sources said on Sunday that Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would be speaking on the issues amid indications that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may make an intervention to convey his government's "robust" stand against terrorism. Leaders of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, respectively, may lead the charge against the government along with Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, besides a host of other members. According to the listed agenda of the Lok Sabha, the House will have a "special discussion on India's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
