Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has accused the BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde of “continuously lying” on the $20 billion Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant that went to Gujarat.
“Mumbai is the financial capital of the country and you are trying to take out these industries and taking it to your state. Now Vedanta has gone, they have been continuously lying. You should be ashamed. It’s gone, I will come with you, let’s try to bring it back,” Mr Thackeray said.
The Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government has been at the receiving end of criticism after Vedanta-Foxconn chose BJP-ruled Gujarat to set up its multi-billion semiconductor plant.
Mr Thackeray, who was addressing party workers at suburban Goregaon, also launched a scathing attack on friend-turned-foe Eknath Shinde for keeping mum on the issue. “Eknath Shinde does Mujra in Delhi but doesn’t say anything on Vedanta Focconn project or any other project,” he said.
Mr Shinde, who led a revolt against the Shiv Sena leadership in August this year, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on June 30 after the Maha Vikas Aghadi or MVA government-led by Uddhav Thackeray collapsed.
Slamming the MLAs, including Eknath Shinde, who brought down his government, Uddhav Thackeray said he “would rather have a few honest people than a huge number of traitors”.
“Even now if someone wants to leave the party, they should leave and go right now,” he added.
Mr Shinde hit back at Mr Thackeray, claiming to be “real torchbearer of Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals”.Mr Shinde hit back at Mr Thackeray, claiming to be “real torchbearer of Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals”.
The 62-year-old leader also challenged Home Minister Amit Shah to conduct Mumbai civic polls and assembly elections within a month and defeat it, saying his party’s relationship with the metropolis was unbreakable.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asked his party to show the Shiv Sena its place in the Mumbai civic polls. I dare you to try it. Shiv Sena’s relationship with the city was unbreakable and the party was deeply connected with the day-to-day life of ordinary Mumbaikars, rushing to their help whenever required.”
Mr Thackeray asked the BJP, his former ally, to tell people what was its contribution in building Mumbai apart from consider it just a piece of real estate.
