Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Uddhav slams Modi, says Maharashtra won't tolerate 'fake son', calls BJP "duplicate Sena"

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his comments that Uddhav faction of the Shiv Sena is the "duplicate Sena" and called him the "fake son" of Bal Thackeray. Thackeray asserted Maharashtra would not tolerate such insults. "Modi used to attack then prime minister Manmohan Singh for not talking about inflation but he himself now speaks only about "gai" (cow) and not "mehangai" (price rise)," Thackeray said addressing a rally in Aurangabad.

"Modi took my signature (for nominations) in 2014 and 2019 but he now calls me fake son of Balasaheb Thackeray and my party as nakli Shiv Sena. In Maharashtra we have a culture of respecting each other and the state's people will not tolerate such insults," Thackeray claimed. Raising the issue of MSP, Uddhav said, "Onion farmers in Maharashtra have faced losses of Rs 1,100 crore and now the Modi government says it will give MSP, so what was the ruling dispensation doing for the last 10 years"

Addressing a rally for the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Aurangabad Lok Sabha seat Chandrakant Khaire, he also said people are inconvenienced during the visits of Modi and cited the closure of roads leading out of the airport during the latter's recent poll visit to Latur. As per PTI, Thackeray said, "Why so much fear when you move with so much security? Maharashtra has bent Modi. During the poll period, all facilities should be given equally to all. If we cannot use some facility, it should not be allowed to them (ruling party leaders) as well"

"Modi is the mastermind of the plot to take away Shiv Sena from me. (Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde even thanked Modi and Amit Shah for giving the Shiv Sena to him", he allege. They used Election Commission and assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar for this purpose," he alleged. Thackeray went on to claim Modi was putting pressure on the judiciary by calling his faction fake repeatedly and the Supreme Court must take note of this. The case pertaining to the split in the Shiv Sena in June 2023 is being heard by the apex court at present.

Speaking about the Maratha quota agitation, Thackeray expressed support for activist Manoj Jarange, as per the PTI reported. He attacked the BJP for the police lathi charge on agitators in Jalna last year.

"People have not forgotten this. But the BJP continues to mislead by saying it will provide reservations to the Maratha community. If they can take away the rights of (Delhi CM Arvind) Kejriwal, then why can't they give quotas," he said. Thackeray, who was unable to attend a rally in Jalna due to inclement weather, asked people there to ensure the defeat of sitting BJP MP and Union minister Raosaheb Danve.