Raj Thackeray wants Modimukt Bharat, says note ban biggest scam: 10 points
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah might look forward to a 'Congress-mukt Bharat', but Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, playing on their words, has called for a "Modi-mukt Bharat" (India free of Modi) after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Raj Thackeray has launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.While the meeting might have raised eyebrows in political circles, Thackeray has described the meeting at Pawar's residence as a courtesy call. Here are the top highlights of MNS chief Raj Thackeray 'Modi-mukt Bharat' speech attacking Narendra Modi and the BJP: 1) 'Modi-mukt Bharat': Pulling no punches, which is his usual style, Raj Thackeray called for a "Modi-mukt Bharat". Addressing a rally on the occasion of Gudi Padwa in Mumbai's Shivaji Park, Thackeray said, "Today, we have to gear up for the third independence.
All the political parties must unite to make 'Modi-mukt Bharat' a reality." Thackeray borrowed and modified the oft-repeated BJP call for a 'Congress-mukt Bharat', which commentators have also called 'Opposition-mukt Bharat' given the Modi and Shah duo's electoral victories in the past four years, to launch a scathing attack at the ruling party in the Centre. 2) 'Opposition must unite': Thackeray's prescription for ensuring a "Modi-mukt Bharat"? The MNS chief said that all Opposition parties should come together to get rid of the BJP-led NDA government. His call for Opposition unity comes at a time when the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party combine in Uttar Pradesh defeated the BJP in the state bypolls, pushing the saffron party out of state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's Gorakhpur constituency. 3) India is 'fed up of Modi's promises': Not stopping his attack, Thackeray said that the country was "fed up with the false promises" made by Prime Minister Modi and his government. Further, in a dig at the prime minister's foreign tours, Thackeray said that Modi was apparently visiting foreign countries to get "flour for Pakoda" as his tours haven't fetched any investments. 4) Demonetisation could be 'biggest scam' in India: Thackeray singled out the Modi government's decision to demonetise old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes in November of 2016 for particular criticism. According to the MNS chief, if the Modi government was ousted and an inquiry was ordered into demonetisation, the note ban exercise might turn out to the biggest scam ever since 1947. 5) Nation-wide riots may be sparked in future: In his hour-long speech, the MNS chief warned about attempts by certain elements to spark nation-wide riots in the future. "The Babri Masjid demolition case is in the Supreme Court and it will be deliberately discussed in the coming days to instigate communal riots," he said. 6) Maharashtra turning into a desert: Quoting an Indian Space Research Organisation report, Thackeray said, "A large-scale desertification of Maharashtra is going on due to the depletion of groundwater. After Rajasthan, our state has reported the second highest rate of desertification in the country." Saying this, he went on to question Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's claim of digging of 56,000 wells in the state. 7) Toilet Ek Prem Katha, Padman 'propaganda programmes': The MNS chief also said films like Toilet Ek Prem Katha and Padman were a covert propaganda for government schemes. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who starred in both the films, was trying to follow the footsteps of Manoj Kumar, an actor who was popularly known as "Bharat Kumar", he added.
8) CM Fadnavis 'busy singing songs': Thackeray didn't just target Prime Minister Modi. Taking potshots at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who recently featured in a video song about river conservation, the MNS chief said, "There are so many problems in the state, but apparently the CM is busy singing songs." 9) 'Media covered Sridevi funeral under govt pressure': Thackeray said that the media might have covered Bollywood actor Sridevi's funeral extensively at the government's behest to divert the people's attention from the Nirav Modi-Punjab National Bank scam. Thackeray also questioned the government's decision to accord a state funeral to Sridevi last month. 10) Thackeray meets Pawar: Raj Thackeray met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's MNS rally. Thackeray later described the meeting, at Pawar's residence in south Mumbai, as a courtesy call and not a political one.Congress President Rahul Gandhi also met Sharad Pawar on Wednesday evening after the BJP's defeat in three Lok Sabha by-elections and is believed to have discussed unity among Opposition parties to take on the BJP-led NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.According to TMC sources, Banerjee, who was not able to attend Gandhi's dinner due to prior commitments, has confirmed her attendance at Pawar's meeting.
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