Election campaign is in full swing for the ongoing civic elections in Maharashtra. The Thackeray family is contesting the civic elections together. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray are also campaigning together. Raj Thackeray, who is in the news for his statements, said in an interview with Saamana that I will bow my head in the temple but I will not drink the water of Ganga. He also said that Muslims of every state are different. Marathi Muslims are Muslims living in Maharashtra for generations.
A day earlier, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana had conducted an interview with the Thackeray brothers (Uddhav and Raj), who came together after a long time. In the interview shared with Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray expressed his views with frankness. During the interview, Raj Thackeray gave a new twist to the narrative of the Hindu Marathi mayor and played the 'Marathi Muslim' card. This interview was taken by Sanjay Raut and Mahesh Manjrekar.
In response to a question, Raj Thackeray said, "The Hindu of every state is different, because the culture of every state is different. Similarly, the Muslim of every state is also different. A Muslim living in Maharashtra for generations or for many years is a Marathi Muslim, he is a Marathi speaker."
He further said, "On the same issue, there was an agitation at the Haj Committee office in the year 2009 or 2010. At that time, the Haj Committee was dominated by the people of Uttar Pradesh-Bihar and there, and the Marathi Muslims of Maharashtra were not being allowed to go on Haj. At that time, our party itself had agitated for this. There are innumerable Muslims in Maharashtra. We have Salim uncle and he is a Marathi Muslim."
In such a situation, in response to the question, can you be criticized for being anti-Hindutva? Raj Thackeray said, "What does this have to do with Hindutva? Suppose I go to the temple tomorrow and pay obeisance and you tell me to drink the water of the Ganga, but I will not drink it. Now I may drink the water from where the Ganga originates." On this, Uddhav Thackeray said, “Yesterday I went to the office of one of my (Muslim) candidates.”
Referring to former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, Raj Thackeray said, cricketer Zaheer Khan is also a Marathi. This is from Sangamner. Whenever we meet face to face, we chat with each other in Marathi.
The joint talks of Thackeray brothers have become a topic of discussion in Maharashtra politics. The second part of the Thackeray brothers' interview has been published in Saamna newspaper today. Uddhav and Raj in unison launched a scathing attack on BJP regarding Marathi identity, future of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Appealing to the people of Maharashtra, both of them said, "We have come together, now Marathi society will also have to show solidarity. Marathi society will have to elect us and send us back. Saving Marathi identity is the need of the hour." He said that Marathi people will have to forget mutual differences and fights and give priority to the interest of Maharashtra.
Regarding BJP, he claimed that BJP also has expiry date and conspiracies are being made to break Marathi votes for electoral gains.
On the issue of Mumbai, both the leaders clearly said that the Mayor of Mumbai will be a Marathi. He questioned the statement of BJP in which the Mayor was described as a Hindu. Thackeray brothers asked whether Marathi is not Hindu? And termed such statements as an attack on Marathi identity.
Read this also – What does Satya Sai's organization do in Venezuela, how much is the membership fee?
Uddhav Thackeray said, “There should not be hatred in the name of Hindutva, but equality and justice.” Raj Thackeray said that Maharashtra will have to decide its own direction and patriotism and devotion to a party are different things.
