Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar on Wednesday described Uddhav Thackeray as a “shallow leader with hollow words” while speaking about the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader’s speech at his party’s Dasara Melava.
Addressing the assembled party workers at Shivaji Park, Thackeray had said on Sunday that the country needed a strong government but not a one-party rule.
The UBT leader batted for a “mili-juli sarkar” as he made a reference to the central governments headed by PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. He also recounted the achievements of his government in the state.
'Shallow and vindictive leader'
Shelar, however, disputed Thackeray’s version of what he had achieved.
“Reservation will be given means reservation will be given. Shiv Sainik will be crowned the chief minister means Shiv Sainik will be crowned. Farmers’ loans will be waived off means it will be waived off. Nearly 1,531 such announcements have been made over the last 10 years… Yesterday, our back office checked the archives and found these statements in speeches over the past 10 years. What happened to all these announcements? These words hold no value. Uddhav Thackeray is a shallow and vindictive leader with hollow words,” the BJP leader said.
'We believe in meri maati, mera desh'
Shelar also criticised Thackeray over his “family” comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Since you raised the issue of the prime minister’s family, you will have to answer some of our questions. Uddhavji, tell us: Did you not take your brother to court? Do you share a cordial relation with your sister-in-law or are you at loggerheads with each other? Hasn’t your own brother accused you of usurping your father’s property? Didn’t you enjoy kicking your cousin out of the family and out of the party? We can also rake up such family issues,” Shelar said.
“We believe in ‘meri maati, mera desh’ and not in ‘my family my responsibility’,” he added. “Those who are on the verge of losing power even at the gram panchayat level are now daydreaming about coming to power in Maharashtra and the country. Your MPs, MLAs, corporators, zilla parishad presidents, members of the panchayat samitis, sarpanch have all left your party. Do you think your existence at the gram panchayat will last?”
