Break the alliance, but don't try to backstab us: Uddhav Thackeray to BJP

Thackeray supported reservation for the Marathas but asked the government to allow a quota based on economic parameters PicAtul KambleSounding the bugle for the BMC polls Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray challenged the BJP to break the existing alliance but asked its ally to think twice before backstabbing his party ldquoSena stopped your juggernaut in Maharashtra in 2014rdquo Thackeray told the BJP while addressing the Senarsquos 50th Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park yesterday He said the Sena would not reach out to the BJP with a begging bowl ldquoIf you want to join us you are most welcome But we must get what we wantrdquolsquoWill teach you a lessonrsquoldquoWe never thought a friend of 25 years would backstab us then But if you want to repeat it then do it openly This tiger cub will teach you a lesson The Sena will show you its ability to launch a surgical strike on yourdquo said Thackeray launching a frontal attack on its major partner in the State and Centre and a minor ally in the BMCHe asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to decide as to who in the BJP would take on the Sena ldquoFirstly you decide who among you will take the challenge of fighting the Sena As of now whoever wishes so says something or the other about usrdquo Thackeray told a moderate rallylsquoSainiks have saved city from evilrsquoUnderlining the Senarsquos lsquounparalleledrsquo equation with Mumbai and its people Thackeray said the citizens love the Sainiks because they share a bond of blood between them ldquoSainiks are always ahead in helping people Sainiks have saved this city from evil forces on several occasions Sainiks are Mumbai and Mumbai is Sainiksrdquo he said Bringing all crucial planks mdash Hindutva and sons of the soil mdash together on the partyrsquos agenda Thackeray said the Sena was the only party that has survived challenges and grown hugely whereas other parties have either disintegrated or vanishedHe said the BJPrsquos magic was fast waning ldquoExcept Assam all other states where elections were held after the Lok Sabha polls regional parties have won powerrdquo he said adding that the people got time to understand who was right and who was wrong Thackeray also told Sainiks to not worry much about alliance with the BJP ldquoI will visit each shakha in the city You must keep the saffron flag flying high on the BMC Let them know the power that the bhagva saffron wieldsrdquo he saidHowever even as he slammed the CM and other state BJP leaders Thackeray chose to keep in PM Narendra Modirsquos good books He lauded Modi for successfully launching a surgical strike beyond LoC ldquoI donrsquot want the government to discuss matters with Pakistan The PM should not stop at surgical strikes but ensure that Pakistan is made part of HindustanrdquoThackeray singled out Congress vicepresident Rahul Gandhi for politicising surgical strikes ldquoDid Rahul Gandhi learn khoon ki dalali from Bofors case You criticise the PM but why distrust our Armyrdquo he saidSena with MarathasSena chief supported the Maratha agitation for reservation but asked the government to allow a quota based on economic parameters ldquoMy father always advocated this idea The Marathas must be given a quota but without cutting into reservation for othersrdquoAppeasing Marathas further Thackeray said he was in favour of amending the Atrocities Act if it was being misusedAs expected Thackeray agreed with the BJPrsquos viewpoint that Muslims should not be given a quota because of their religion ldquoMuslims must get reservation as the poor of this country but not because they belong to a certain religionrdquo