This Article is From May 01, 2014

Sena Targets Gujaratis: 'Wish They Had Done for Maharashtra What They Are Doing For Modi'

Sena Targets Gujaratis: 'Wish They Had Done for Maharashtra What They Are Doing For Modi'

File pic: Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of Shiv Sena

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, the BJP's oldest ally, has targeted people from Narendra Modi's Gujarat in an editorial.

"Those who came here in abject poverty used Mumbai to raise empires of gold. Now, this very class is pulling political ropes to choose a PM and dethrone another," says the editorial in the latest issue of Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

"If only the Gujaratis and businessmen united for Maharashtra like they did for Modi."

The comments referred to 'Maharashtra Day' celebrations today, which, the Sena said, were a 'must' for politicians but those living in 'prosperous pockets' have never cared.

"Without Mumbai's warmth and money, their dreams would have never come true. The Beparis (businessmen from Gujarat) who are otherwise aloof from politics have united to elect a son of their soil. It's the sweat and toil of Mumbai that brings revenue worth two lakh crores. But all that Maharashtra gets in return is humiliation, neglect and farmer suicides," the Sena said.

The Shiv Sena's nearly two-decade alliance with the BJP has been prickly since Nitin Gadkari met Raj Thackeray, the estranged cousin of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in March. Mr Gadkari said his intent was to avoid a split in anti-Congress votes by bringing the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief on board.

The BJP instantly launched damage control, and its prime ministerial candidate Mr Modi dialed a seething Uddhav Thackeray.

Recently, BJP chief Rajnath Singh sent a stronger message when he declared in Mumbai, without naming Raj Thackeray, that no party should offer support to the BJP-led coalition just to ride what the party believes is a "Modi wave".

Raj Thackeray broke away from the Shiv Sena in 2006 to set up the MNS, which is seen to have eaten into the Sena's votes with its almost-identical ideology.
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