"Non-Marathi Speakers Are 100% Safe In Mumbai": Devendra Fadnavis To NDTV

Non-Marathi speakers are completely safe in Mumbai and some elements target people from underprivileged sections for publicity, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told NDTV today. The Chief Minister was speaking to NDTV's CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Rahul Kanwal, Managing Editor Padmaja Joshi and Executive Editor Jitendra Dixit at NDTV's Power Play on the upcoming election to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"This is the third generation of North Indians living in Mumbai, they are complete Mumbaikars in their food habits, culture and festivals. There have been a few incidents, and who do they target? Cab drivers, auto-rickshaw drivers. They do it for their publicity," he said, referring to parties such as Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The two parties, led by Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray, have come together for the BMC election and have raised the 'Marathi Manoos' issue.

Fadnavis said that the NDA government's vision is to develop Mumbai as a vibrant and sustainable city. He said the government has started redevelopment in Mumbai to provide affordable housing to Marathi Manoos and is giving homes to people in Dharavi, too.

Speaking about the transport woes in Mumbai, he said, "We have started a 437-km metro network in Mumbai in five years. Delhi took 20, we took five." Fadnavis said the government is also working to expand the road connectivity and BEST services in Mumbai and improve the local train network, considered Mumbai's lifeline. "We are bringing metro-like AC compartments in suburban railway, and a single ticket plan. We are doing a complete integration of Mumbai's transportation system. We are also working on waste management and air quality," he said.

Responding to a question on a tussle within the NDA alliance, he said, "We are in a stable alliance; we will be together for five years after this as well." He said Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde often travels to Delhi to meet his grandson, and these trips are interpreted as signs of trouble within the alliance.

Asked why he speaks about emotive issues in his speeches, Fadnavis replied that 95 per cent of his speeches are about development. "In the remaining 5 per cent, I respond to allegations. But show me one speech of Uddhav Thackeray about development. There is not a word about their vision for BMC," he said.

Hindutva and Marathi, he said, cannot be separated because Marathi is Hindu. "They (opposition) are saying they will form a Marathi and Muslim alliance. Hindutva and Marathi cannot be separated. There is Hindutva in Marathi. They (opposition) are playing an old cassette. He should get a new person to write his script. How long will he rely on Sanjay Raut's script?"

Fadnavis also responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's claim that Thackerays can shut down Mumbai in 10 minutes. "We don't fear such empty threats. They had challenged that they won't let Eknath Shinde enter Mumbai. He came, went to Raj Bhavan, and formed the government. Forget Mumbai, they cannot shut down their neighbourhood. When Balasaheb Thackeray was alive, Shiv Sena had the power to shut down Mumbai. These people are powerless," he said.