In Mumbai, ahead of the polling, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not hold back during a rally at Shivaji Park in expressing his betrayal against the Shiv Sena, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. "Fake" Shiv Sena, Prime Minister Modi labeled them, saying they have given up the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray and the sacrifices made by Shiv Sainiks.
"Fake Shiv Sena," says PM Modi, talking about Uddhav Thackeray aligning himself with groups that belittle the importance of Ram Mandir and those who callously celebrate during the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, just for the sake of power. He also pointed out the irony of Thackeray's association with the Congress, a party that he claims disrespects the memory of Veer Savarkar.
It is going to be a complicated political landscape as the BJP with the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) contest against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Congress, each trying to outdo each other in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
He appealed to the people of Mumbai to cast their vote diligently, reminding them that every vote cast would be cast in his favor.
He did not stop there. PM Modi openly challenged NCP's Sharad Pawar to hold back Congress's Rahul Gandhi from disrespecting Veer Savarkar.
PM Modi also accused the INDIA bloc of repeated affronts on the Constitution, particularly about reservations made on religious lines, which he claimed was against Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision.
PM Modi accused the INDIA bloc of doing appeasement politics and claimed that they betrayed not only Mumbai but the entire nation. He accused them of denying the reality of the surgical strike and exonerating Ajmal Kasab, the perpetrator of the Mumbai terror attack.
Flanked by top political leaders such as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, CM Eknath Shinde, deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, PM Modi blamed the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government for stalling developmental projects in Mumbai and across the state.
He reassured the audience of his commitment to the progress of Mumbai, citing ongoing projects like the Bullet train and Mumbai Metro as examples of his vision for a modern India. He delineated his ambitious dream for a developed India by 2047, and Mumbai will play an important role in it.
Modi thus contrasted his proactive agenda with what he perceived as the chaotic and regressive policies of the INDIA bloc, warning against their manifesto promises, including proposals like 'Inheritance Tax' and their alleged eye on the wealth of temples and women's 'mangalsutras'.
Enumerating the achievements of his government, PM Modi said that he had ensured the eradication of poverty and the abrogation of Article 370—a historic move. He stressed that his government was doing everything to get the Ram Mandir constructed and that it was taking several steps to see India emerge as the third-largest economic power of the world.
In a parting shot at the Congress, PM Modi said India would have done much better had the Congress dissolved after Independence, a sentiment shared by Mahatma Gandhi.
Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray, in his speech, appealed to PM Modi to give Classical Language status for Marathi and incorporate the 125-year rule of Marathas in the history books. He also demanded concerns over the pending infrastructural projects such as the Mumbai-Goa highway and called for the beautification of historical forts.
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