Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s alleged anti-Maharashtra remark has intensified the Shiv Sena’s anger, as the party launched a signature campaign against the Congress leader in Dombivali on Saturday.
While campaigning for the Bihar Assembly elections, Rahul had allegedly said that the labourers from Bihar paved the way for development in states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab.
Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray during his campaign for the upcoming civic polls in Kalyan-Dombivali came down heavily on Rahul. “Maharashtra was built by leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Lokmanya Tilak and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. This (remarks of Gandhi) is an insult to all Maharashtrians,” Mr Thackeray said, adding, “We will not tolerate such comments, and I appeal to the masses to write a comment on the signature board. We will launch a agitation all over the state.”
The Sena has set up a 20-feet long board on Phadke Road in Dombivali for condemning the comments made by Rahul. Mr Thackeray kicked off the campaign by becoming the first person to sign on the board. Subsequently, hordes of people signed on the board voicing their opinions. “What is Rahul’s contribution in Maharashtra’s progress? Why does he drag Maharashtra when he goes to Bihar?” Mr Thackeray asked. “Rahul should remember that our President is a Maharashtrian and Prime Minister a Punjabi. He should not indulge in such politics,” Mr Thackeray said. Earlier, Sanjay Nirupam, Congress MP from Mumbai north, had supported Rahul’s statement.
Following Rahul’s remark, Mr Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Congress leader calling him “disoriented” and “immature”. “I echo the feelings of all Maharashtrians. Rahul Gandhi is disoriented. If he has so much love for Bihar he should take Biharis to his constituency or even to Italy for progress,” Mr Thackeray had said on Friday.
Earlier, the Sena executive president had also said that Rahul’s great grandfather former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who called Shivaji the “bandit king”, was also anti-Maharashtra.