Proud of being regional party: Uddhav Thackeray

Taking a dig at alliance partner BJP, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday that his ‘regional’ party did much work than the national parties. He even drew parallel between West Bangal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and Shiv Sena saying that he is proud of being tagged as the regional party. He addressed a huge crowd of workers on Sunday at Goregaon on the 50th foundation day of the party.

“You criticise us for being regional, but praise Mamata Banerjee. She pitches for Ma, Mati and Manush the regional agenda, which we also endorse. She should be appreciated and West Bengal citizens should be thanked for defeating Delhi power centre (BJP)... We are regional but never compromised for power,” Uddhav said, refusing to accept the tag of being myopic.

Uddhav did not spare Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the latest Kairana controversy in Uttar Pradesh. “There are reports that the Hindus are leaving the place. But what are you doing despite being in power at the Centre Modi has been elected from Uttar Pradesh and still Hindus are being targeted there When Kashmiri Pandits were thrown out of their houses, late Sena supremo gave them shelter in Mumbai. What the national parties were doing then But now you (BJP) are in power in Delhi and still cannot help the Hindus ” he said.

Recalling demolition of Babri masjid, Uddhav said that late Sena supremo Bal Thackeray was the only leader who had backed the act and defended the Hindutva workers who were disowned by their own parties. “Post demolition of the Babri Masjit, the entire Mumbai was burning. Our Sena workers saved the people then,” he said to flaunt the regional tag on his party.

Uddhav also criticised the foreign tours undertaken by the PM without naming him. “I feel that all elections, Lok Sabha, Assembly, should be conducted at the same time. Different timings of elections disturbs foreign tours,” he said.