Raj Thackeray flays PM, dares Shiv Sena to quit BJP-led govt

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray on Friday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of "betraying the trust" and dared the Shiv Sena to quit the BJP-led government which, he claimed, wasn't giving due credit to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

"Which PM undertook so many foreign trips? Where are the 'achche din'," Raj asked at a 'Gudhi Padwa' rally of his party at Shivaji Park here tonight.

Maharastra Navnirman Sena president Raj Shrikant Thackeray speaking after 9 years at Shivaji Park, Dadar, on Gudi Padwa on Friday night. Pic/AJINKYA SAWANT

"You promised to bring back black money. Where is it? Mallya took crores (of rupees) from here and fled from the country," he said.

Jewellers are now saying 'Ek Hi Bhool, Kamal Ka Phool' (the only mistake is voting BJP to power), Raj said.

Before becoming the Prime Minister, Modi opposed the norms for jewellers, but is implementing the same after becoming the PM, he said.

"Earlier, I had said that Modi was the last hope, but now, after seeing that he has betrayed the trust, I have started speaking against him," he said.

Modi has changed after becoming the PM, he said, adding, "You promised miracles, saying you will do this in 100 days of coming to power. Where are those miracles?"

"Now you are taking help of RSS on issues like nationalism. Will the RSS distribute certificates of nationalism," he asked.

Referring to the 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogan row, he said, "They say Ram temple issue is (pending) before the court. The court gave clean chit to Amit Shah, but why no solution on Ram temple issue."

Slamming the Owaisi brothers (Asaduddin and Akbaruddin), Raj alleged, "They are financed by BJP."

"Come to Maharashtra, I will put a knife to your throat," he challenged Asaduddin Owaisi on his remark that he would not chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat.

Taking on Shiv Sena, Raj said, "Why is Sena remaining in power despite the BJP not giving them due credit? What happened to Shiv Sena's agitation on Jaitapur nuclear plant?... The Sena is afraid of MNS despite being in power."

Mimicking Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj said his insistence on raising 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogan is "misplaced". "Nobody is going to remove you," he said, referring to Fadnavis' remarks that he is ready to quit as CM, but won't stop saying the slogan.

"He is like a class monitor," Raj said.

The MNS chief also read out the message by a farmer written before he committed suicide. The farmer said the government was neglecting farmers and youth of Marathwada," Raj said, adding, "What is the difference between you and the Congress government?"