Thackeray spoke with Loksatta editor Girish Kuber on Loksatta’s 74th anniversary, a Marathi newspaper owned by The Indian Express group. On the event, the CM also published a book called Loksatta Varshvedh.
On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stated that the Centre’s attempts to muzzle and defame states by leveraging its authority show the deterioration of politics, which is harmful to the country and democracy. He went on t say that the Shiv Sena is willing to work with other parties in the country in the national interest.
Looking back over the previous few decades, it appears that the country has made better development under coalition governments. They (the BJP) are squandering a chance instead of seizing it. All states should fight the Centre’s repression.
Instead of being viewed as an anti-BJP front, we are prepared to reproduce what we have done on a national scale in Maharashtra. “We’ll accomplish it if everyone works together,” he stated.
Thackeray also questioned the activities of the state’s central investigative institutions. Are there no states left for major investigative agencies, other from West Bengal and Maharashtra? In Gujarat, an enormous fraud was revealed.
They make a big deal about the drug seizure in Maharashtra. An image is being painted in which cannabis cultivation is widespread throughout Maharashtra. Raids are being carried out to portray Maharashtra as the worst state in the country.
It’s a smear campaign against the government. “Everyone’s days are numbered, and they must know that time passes,” the CM stated.
He also indirectly ruled out a reconciliation with the BJP. Will they change their ways? In the beginning, our alliance was ideological. But we don’t know where that philosophy has gone.
“We have followed in their footsteps in establishing coalitions”
Thackeray remarked.
He further said that the scenario in Maharashtra was such that no party could come to power on its own. That is why we have formed a coalition government based on a shared minimum policy. “However, the goal of bolstering the Shiv Sena in the rural has not been abandoned,” he continued.
‘Many people did not believe I would return. However, this is the third year in a row that this has occurred. “It’s better to come back without talking about it,” he said, alluding to his November spine surgery. He stated that he would attend the legislature’s budget session before proceeding to Mantralaya, the state secretariat.
Thackeray lamented the delay in awarding Marathi classical language status but said the application had been sent to the Centre. The announcement of giving Marathi classical language status should be made in the run-up to the municipal elections.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s native tongue is Marathi. “Do you have the ability to elevate Chhatrapati’s mother tongue to the position of a classical language?” he asked.
Published By: Khushboo Mehta
Edited By: Kritika Kashyap
