Mumbai: Mumbai’s infrastructure, economic growth, businesses, Marathi vs Gujarati — all these themes found mention in the rallies of Maharashtra’s ruling alliance Mahayuti and the opposition INDIA bloc in the city Friday.
The Mahayuti rally was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, both deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis, and MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the iconic Shivaji Park ground.
The INDIA bloc rally was attended by Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal at the BKC ground.
Delivering a speech at the Mahayuti rally, PM Modi emphasised on how in the last 10 years, Mumbai had seen no terror attacks and security had been heightened because of the BJP-led government at the Centre.
He also stressed upon the need to grow Mumbai economically in terms of infrastructure projects, which he alleged had been stalled during the rule of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra from November 2019 to June 2022. The alliance then comprised the undivided Shiv Sena, undivided NCP and the Congress.
“Mumbai doesn’t just dream, Mumbai lives dreams. Mumbai has never left those with dreams dejected. In this dream city, I have come to you with my dream for 2047. There is a dream of our country, a plan, that all of us have to come together for a developed India. And in this, Mumbai will play a very important role,” Modi said.
“Mumbai’s people know the cost of speed the best. So many countries who got freedom along with India have gone ahead. Where did we lack?” he asked.
Uddhav Thackeray and Kharge, on the other hand, alleged that the PM did not care about Mumbai and was insensitive as he held a roadshow just a day after the billboard collapse incident in Mumbai in which 16 people lost their lives.
“Your roadshow two days ago was at a place where people died in the hoarding accident and you were dancing and singing even before the last rites of those who died were performed,” Thackeray said, referring to the Ghatkopar billboard collapse.
Six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai will go to the polls Monday, along with four — Thane, Kalyan, Palghar and Bhiwandi — in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
In the previous 2019 polls, all these seats had been won by the undivided Shiv Sena-BJP alliance.
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‘Mumbai used to live in terror’
In his speech, PM Modi said he had come to Mumbai to give back the people of the city what is rightfully theirs.
“For decades, our country was facing terror attacks and bomb blasts. A city like Mumbai used to live in terror. There would be only one thing that people would hear, if you see anything lying unattended, inform the police, be alert. It has been 10 years, have you heard this anywhere? Has this all not stopped? They used to think it was impossible,” he said.
He also accused Maharashtra’s erstwhile MVA government of “stealing people’s mandate and then stalling people’s works” and alleged that Uddhav Thackeray, who was CM during MVA rule, did not allow Mumbai and Maharashtra to progress.
“Your single vote has been the base of big decisions in national welfare, so every vote is necessary. When these people stole the mandate and made a government, I am talking about Maharashtra, (which) they stalled. Bullet trains, Mumbai Metro, freight terminal were stalled. They were taking out their enmity on Mumbai,” the PM told the crowd.
“Modi has come to give Mumbai its right back. Today, Mumbai is getting modern infrastructure. The Mumbai Metro is being expanded, railways are being modernised, the Navi Mumbai airport is being built and the day is not far when Mumbai will get the first bullet train,” he added.
The PM also accused the Congress of keeping the pace of the country and Mumbai slow. He warned people against voting for the opposition INDIA bloc, saying the “Congress and INDIA alliance’s Maoist economics will stop Mumbai’s wheels”.
“For the Congress, it is a fight to save its existence. It can go to any extent. Mumbai is India’s economic powerhouse. Ten years ago, look at where the stock exchange was and where it is today. India’s confidence is increasing,” Modi said.
In his speech, Modi invoked the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Hindu Mahasabha leader V.D. Savarkar. He accused Uddhav Thackeray of betraying his father Bal and his ideals.
“On this land of Shiv teerth, Balasaheb Thackeray and Veer Savarkar’s voice would boom. But today their souls must be so disturbed. These people (Shiv Sena UBT) betrayed Balasaheb. For power, they went with people who badmouth the Ram Mandir. The Congress that slams Savarkar, they (Shiv Sena UBT) are sitting in their laps today,” he said.
“Get (senior Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi to say that he will not utter a single word against Veer Savarkar in his entire life. They will not be able to do that. These are people who hurt Maharashtra’s pride. There was a time when the Shiv Sena would stand against such people. Today, the same fake Shiv Sena (referring to Shiv Sena UBT) is opposing Hindus,” he added.
‘You took away businesses to Gujarat’
At the BKC rally, Uddhav Thackeray targeted Modi and accused him of taking businesses away from Mumbai to Gujarat, his home state.
He even accused Modi of dividing Mumbai on linguistic lines between the Marathis and Gujaratis. He said the PM needed to know that in Mumbai, all types of people, from all castes, creed and religions, were living peacefully and harmoniously.
“You are looting our Mumbai. You are trying to make Mumbai a beggar. You took away businesses to Gujarat,” Thackeray alleged. “You took away what was rightfully of Mumbai to Gujarat.”
Thackeray also spoke about unpleasant incidents that have taken place between the Marathis and Gujaratis in Mumbai. He invoked the Samyukta Maharashtra movement (which advocated for a separate state consisting only of Marathi-speaking population).
“We have struggled, given our blood and got this Mumbai. Your ancestors did not do anything for Mumbai. This arrogance won’t work. In Mumbai, your (Gujarati) companies bully us. They say that we won’t give any work to Marathis,” he said.
“I am not against all Gujaratis. But because of Modi, some Gujaratis have become arrogant. I want to tell them that they better improve their behaviour. If because of Modi, you are denying Marathis, then we will pack your bags and send you back to Gujarat. Get out,” he said.
Thackeray also reminded the crowd that whenever Mumbaikars have been in trouble, be it during bomb blasts, floods, fire, “only Shiv sainiks go to help the Mumbaikars and not any BJP worker”.
“The Shiv sainik doesn’t ask the victim who are you? Whether you are Marathi, Gujarati, Hindu, or Muslim, North or South Indian,” he said.
Thackeray and Kharge also reminded voters about how the MVA government worked during the Covid pandemic and especially how the then government took care of migrants in Mumbai, be it giving them meals or medicines.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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