The BMC’s fixed deposits (FD) are safe because of the BJP’s sincere efforts in preventing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena from robbing the money, claimed saffron party leader Ashish Shelar on Tuesday. The chief of Mumbai BJP was responding to Thackeray’s comment that the BJP was eyeing the civic body’s FD. “Thackeray’s address to his party on Monday was nothing but his mere frustration. The BMC’s FDs remained safe because the BJP executed its duty of being vigilant and did not allow the ruling party to succeed in robbing the coffers,” said Shelar.

“If Uddhav Thackeray’s governance in the BMC over the past 25 years is to be evaluated, it will be found that the real extortionists of the BMC were his party’s leaders. The BJP has pledged to free Mumbaikars of the extortionists. “Thackeray managed the affairs of the BMC like a ‘sethji’ (businessman). The reason I call him ‘sethji’ is because all the works that he executed were for the benefit of the rich who he gave discounts to,” he added.