Uddhav Thackeray reaches out to socialists, says old differences can be resolved

Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that the old differences with socialists were mainly ideological which can be settled for the cause of democracy reported the PTIAccording to the PTI while addressing a gathering of 21 socialist parivar parties Uddhav Thackeray recalled that despite differences his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and socialist leaders had come together for the common cause of Samyukta united MaharashtraThe movement achieved its goal when Maharashtra was created as a Marathi linguistic state in 1960 with Mumbai as its capitalWe had ideological differences even though our objective was the same Differences can be resolved when we sit and talk Uddhav Thackeray saidHe recalled how George Fernandes managed to defeat Congress stalwart SK Patil in the 1960s saying the trade union leader instilled confidence among people that Patil a Mumbai strongman who had the backing of industrialists could be defeatedIt can happen even now if we stand united for democracy Cadres are very important and if we have a strong cadre there is no need to fear he addedUddhav Thackeray said Shiv Sena founded in 1966and socialist parties have had a long history of differences but they did come together on issues like Samyukta MaharashtraSamajwadis also played an important role in the movement against Emergency Despite differences Acharya Atre SA Dange and Bal Thackeray were on the same page during the movement for a united Maharashtra he addedHitting out at the BJP Uddhav Thackeray said the BJP joined hands with Shiv Sena undivided after the assembly bypoll in 1987 showed that the election could be won by consolidating Hindu votes as per the PTIHe alleged the BJP wants to grow by destroying others and currently it doesnt want anyoneAt this moment I have nothing to offer you because I possess nothing When you join hands with someone who cannot offer you anything it is true friendship the former Maharashtra chief minister said according to the news agencyHe accused the BJP of splitting parties and alliances which are doing wellIf the BJP can shower flowers on Pakistani cricketers at the Narendra Modi stadium I can also talk to socialist parties Many of them may be Muslims but they are nationalists who want to protect the countrys democracy he said the PTI reported on SundayUddhav Thackeray alleged the Jan Sangh the forerunner of BJP was instrumental in splitting the Janata Party on the dual membership issueThe Shiv Sena UBT a constituent of the INDIA bloc is trying to rebuild itself for the 2024 polls in view of a vertical split in Shiv Sena undivided last yearAfter the split the faction led by Thackeray joined hands with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi VBA led by Daslit leader Prakash Ambedkar and Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade as part of its social engineering planNotably Shiv Sena undivided which fashioned itself as the protector of Marathi manoos and later Hindutva had a common cause with socialist parties on several issues in the 1960s 70swith PTI inputs