Coronavirus Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray spoke to reporters via Facebook Live on Sunday evening
In a two-for-one moment on Sunday evening, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took a thinly-veiled double swipe at the centre - over both delay in delivery of dal (pulses) to the state during the coronavirus lockdown and allegations that some opposition leaders were playing politics during the ongoing health crisis.
Mr Thackeray, speaking via video link to maintain social distancing protocols, said: "dal mein kaala baad mai, pehle dal toh aaney do (something wrong with the dal can come later, but first let the dal come).
"There was a central team in Mumbai and Pune. Some people told me see there is a team from the centre here and I was told that dal main kuch kaala hai (something is wrong with the dal). I said we have been asking them for dal. Because under the food security scheme, whatever grains we have to distribute, there is only rice. Wheat and dal are required. Dal mein kaala baad mai, pehle dal toh aaney do (something wrong with the dal can come later, but first let the dal come)," Uddhav Thackeray said.
Last month Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announcing an Rs 1.75 lakh crore package for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 outbreak, said they would get five kilograms of wheat/rice and one kilogram of their preferred dal.
These would be free of cost for the next three months, she said, declaring that "no one will go hungry". However, in his address Uddhav Thackeray indicated the foodgrains had not yet been delivered.
Mr Thackeray also had praise for Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, whose BJP broke up with Mr Thackeray's Shiv Sena, spectacularly, despite winning last year's assembly election. Mr Gadkari had cautioned against politicising the coronavirus outbreak and urged leaders to work together at this time.
Mr Thackeray, who said "I want to thank you, Gadkari-ji", was seen by many as referring to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been critical of the current administration's handling of the crisis.
"Elections come and go. Sometimes people come to power and sometimes they go out of power. But if we lose lives, that will never come back. We should not do politics over this and I want to thank Gadkariji. We have a good centre-state relationship but some are still doing politics. I'm not going into it but people tell me you are not doing politics but see they haven't stopped their politics. I say that is their issue, not mine.," he said.
"Your (Mr Gadkari's) advice to refrain from politics and stand by the and stand behind the Maharashtra government firmly, I thank you for this. And I want to thank you because your appeal that this is not the time for politics, your appeal to the people of Maharashtra and politicians of Maharashtra, that everyone should support the people of Maharashtra, stand by the Maharashtra, this is exactly what is needed," he added.
Nitin Gadkari's comment on the matter is interesting, given that there is reportedly little love lost between him and Mr Fadnavis.
Mr Thackeray also hit out at allegations his government was not being transparent in handling the COVID-19 crisis; the comment comes after a central team visited the state this week.
Maharashtra is the worst-hit state in this novel coronavirus outbreak, with over 8,000 confirmed cases and 342 deaths so far. State capital Mumbai is the worst-affected metro city in the country with more than 5,000 confirmed cases.
"What will happen? There are all kinds of figures doing the rounds... there will be this many cases in Maharashtra and that many cases in Mumbai. Are figures being hidden? Nothing has been hidden. There is nothing to hide," Mr Thackeray said.
The Chief Minister also said his state will take a decision on extending the lockdown by the end of the month; the nation is currently under lockdown till May 3.
The centre is expected to take a decision on this matter after Monday's video meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a number of chief ministers. Mr Thackeray is not on the list of state leaders for today's meeting.
India has reported over 27,000 COVID-19 cases and 872 deaths so far.