NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena MP Milinda Deora on Sunday said that he welcomes that Congress has finally acknowledged Balasaheb Thackeray‘s legacy.
“I welcome Congress finally acknowledging Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy after 12 years. In 2012, as a Union Minister from Mumbai, I had proposed that the UPA declare a day of national mourning for Balasaheb. While then PM Dr. Manmohan Singh seemed supportive, the idea was blocked by certain elements within the alliance,” said the candidate from Worli Assembly seat.
Earlier, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra mentioned Bal Thackeray while campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly polls, saying that the Shiv Sena founder wouldn’t have tolerated Shivaji Maharaj’s insult.
The AICC general secretary’s rare reference to Thackeray, whose aggressive Hindutva was rejected by previous Congress generational leaders, comes at a time when PM Narendra Modi has dared the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) to ensure Rahul Gandhi speaks a few words of praise for Bal Thackeray and V D Savarkar.
“Modi always takes the name of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Yes, our ideologies (Congress’s and Shiv Sena’s) were different…Yes, our political thinking was different… But neither Balasaheb Thackeray nor any leader from the Congress and Rahul ji (Gandhi) would tolerate Shivaji Maharaj’s insult,” Priyanka said while addressing poll rallies in Shirdi and Kolhapur.
She accused Mahayuti leaders of insulting Shivaji Maharaj, mentioning the collapse of his statue in Sindhudurg district in August, alleging corruption.
“The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj outside Parliament was removed. The statue installed in Sindhudurg, collapsed as corruption took place in its construction. What is the point of taking the name of the legendary king if you want to insult that person?” she asked.
Meanwhile, Milind Deora, took a dig at Aaditya Thackeray for “avoiding” his challenge to debate on the future of the Worli assembly constituency.
Ahead of the polling in Maharashtra, Deora had invited Thackeray, who is Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate and incumbent Worli MLA, for an open debate on issues concerning Mumbai, Worli and Maharashtra.
“A few days ago, I invited Aaditya Thackeray to debate the future of Worli, the future of Mumbai, and the future of Maharashtra. He claims to believe in democracy and strengthening it. During the Lok Sabha elections, he spoke about the importance of candidates engaging in debates. Why is he avoiding a debate in this election? If he claims to be pro-democracy and pro-debates, why is he running away from one?” Deora told news agency ANI.
Additionally he also accused Thackeray’s party of “distributing money in exchange for votes”.
“We found out that yesterday, his [Aaditya Thackeray’s] party was distributing money and installing cameras in building societies to buy votes. One of his party leaders from Worli was caught on video admitting to providing these cameras to buy votes but refused to name the leader responsible, citing the code of conduct,” Deora claimed.