NITI Aayog's MMR blueprint a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra: Uddhav

Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday accused the NITI Aayogrsquos plan to develop the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR as a deliberate attempt to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra by undermining the importance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCAccording to news agency PTI while speaking at a rally at the BKC Ground in Mumbai a day before the campaigning for the assembly elections concluded Thackeray pledged that if the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA came to power it would scrap the Memorandum of Understanding MoU signed between the World Economic Forum WEF and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA as the agreement aimed to diminish the importance of the BMCI wouldnrsquot hesitate to disband the MMRDA if it tries to encroach on the BMCrsquos jurisdiction Thackeray saidHe stated that the conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra is a serious and imminent threat and not just loose talk The ploy is real but we will never allow this to happen he addedAccording to PTI Thackeray further claimed that MMRDA and WEF had signed an agreement in September to develop the metropolitan region as a global economic hub which followed NITI Aayogrsquos report on development The NITI Aayog blueprint diminishes the importance of the Mumbai civic body and that is a clear attempt to separate the capital from Maharashtra he assertedThe former chief minister also vowed that the first action of an MVA government would be to cancel the policies of the Mahayuti government that had handed over Mumbairsquos land to the Adani GroupMy govt was toppled because I refused Maharashtras loot UddhavI am not antidevelopment but I am antidestruction Thackeray said distancing himself from allegations of hindering growthAccording to PTI he further claimed that his government in Maharashtra which was toppled in June 2022 and the subsequent split in Shiv Sena had been the result of his refusal to allow the looting of MaharashtraSpeaking about the ongoing Shiv Sena legislatorsrsquo disqualification case in the Supreme Court he added The courts havent given me justice I seek justice from you for the sake of MaharashtraThe Shiv Sena UBT leader also took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that it was ironic that the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP had to build a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel mdash who had banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS in the past mdash in Gujarat while seeking votes in Maharashtra in the name of Balasaheb Thackeray This is the revenge of time Thackeray remarkedAttacking the BJPrsquos Ek hai to Safe Hai slogan Thackeray said If people feel unsafe while Modi is at the helm then he should resign Only corrupt and traitors feel safe when Modi is aroundThackeray further accused the government of handing over critical infrastructure in Maharashtra mdash such as airports ports electricity mines and schools mdash to the Adani Group calling it a grave crisis for the stateMaharashtra will be destroyed if Mahayuti returns to powerHe urged the people to support the MVA and warned that Maharashtra would be destroyed if the Mahayuti returned to powerThe Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief recalled the partyrsquos unwavering support for the abrogation of Article 370 and the role of his father in sheltering Kashmiri Pandits fleeing persecution Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Narendra Modi werenrsquot known to the world at that time he saidTargeting the BJPrsquos poll campaign Thackeray pointed out that the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir did not address issues such as Minimum Support Price MSP unemployment or womenrsquos security in MaharashtraHe also expressed concern over Modi and Shahs actions stating The people of Gujarat should realise that Modi and Amit Shah have created a barrier between the western state and the rest of the country He called on Gujaratrsquos people to stop the BJP from shifting critical projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat adding How can they move projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat You should stop themWith PTI inputs