Sena Foundation Day: Uddhav hints at alliance with MNS, vows to reclaim Mumbai

Thackeray alleged that attempts were being made behind closed doors to block the alliance. “The servants are working and holding meetings in hotels,” he said, a veiled reference to last week’s meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray at a Mumbai hotel.

Declaring that his party was fully prepared to fight the upcoming elections, Thackeray said, “They fear for Adani if we win Mumbai. That’s why they are trying to divide the Marathi people. But we will reclaim Mumbai.”

Taking on the Centre on its language policy, Thackeray accused the BJP of attempting to divide Hindus by making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra. “This is another form of ‘Katenge toh batenge’… Earlier, they used this line to polarise Hindus and Muslims. Now, by forcing Hindi, they are creating divisions within Hindus,” he said.

He dared the BJP to impose Hindi in Gujarat before experimenting with it in Maharashtra. “We will not allow Hindi to be made compulsory here,” he said.

Thackeray also took a jibe at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, calling a function organised by his camp as “a gathering of thieves”. Without naming Shinde, he said, “I pity those who change their fathers and have no political heirs. BJP does the same.”

He reminded the BJP of its unfulfilled promise of a rotational CM’s post during the 2019 alliance talks. “The country today needs a Prime Minister, not someone who uses the office for personal gains. India needs a Home Minister, not someone who takes pride in breaking parties.”

Turning his fire on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Thackeray recalled the aftermath of terror attacks on Indian tourists in Kashmir and the standoff with Pakistan. “You tied the hands of our army. One call from Donald Trump, and you became silent. What’s the use of such a PM or Home Minister,” he said.

He mocked the BJP for allegedly inducting tainted individuals, referring to former Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar, who was once linked by the BJP to Dawood Ibrahim’s aide Salim Kutta. “Are you setting up stalls outside jails? Will you enrol Dawood next,” Thackeray said.