BJP cheated my father on Hindutva pretext, I am not so naive: Uddhav Thackeray

The CM said, “Tase Balasaheb Bhole Hote, Pun Me Nahi (In some ways, Balasaheb had this streak of innocence. But I am not like that). I will not allow the BJP to succeed in its plot. I have my eyes and ears on each of their actions and strategies.”

Thackeray said the BJP has ushered in “low-level politics” in Maharashtra. “The people will ask the BJP as to where they have taken Maharashtra,” he added.

On Hindutva, the CM said, “For Shiv Sena, Hindutva is like a breath. We don’t have to proclaim our Hindutva every now and then in public.”

Thackeray said, “Shiv Sena fought its first by poll in Vile Parle on Hindutva plank and won. What is notable is when Sena fought the elections on Hindutva agenda, BJP had put up a candidate against the party. After Sena’s victory, the BJP leaders came and met Bal Thackeray and proposed an alliance on Hindutva.”

He added, “BJP leaders were cheating Bal Thackeray while citing Hindutva to keep the alliance intact. Bal Thackeray overlooked BJP’s mischief and cheating in the larger interest of Hindutva, the state, and the country. I am not so naive.”

On BJP’s “politics of vendetta”, he said, “This was never the political culture of Maharashtra. The politics of revenge will not be tolerated in Maharashtra.”

Commenting on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) taking up the agenda of Hindutva, Thackeray said, “I don’t give them any attention. Sometimes they play Marathi card, at others it’s Hindutva. It is like providing free entertainment to people.”

He added, “Their approach is to try out Hindutva. If it works well, fine, if not, they will leave it. They look at issues from marketing perspective.”

Referring to the Centre-state conflict, Thackeray said, “The Centre cannot bulldoze its decision on states by exercising its power. Any attempt to misuse the power by Centre will be met with retaliation. After all, Maharashtra has fought Mughul ruler Aurangzeb. It will do everything to retain its pride and honour.”

If “excesses” continue, all non-BJP states will unite to fight the Centre, the CM said.