Modi, INDIA bloc clash, exchanging barbs, swords in Mumbai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, engaged in a heated showdown in Mumbai on May 17, just ahead of the city heading to polls on May 20. The atmosphere was tense as they exchanged barbs over corruption, Hindutva, the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, Article 370, and the Constitution.
In his address to a packed gathering at Shivaji Park in Dadar, Prime Minister Modi emphasized Mumbai’s pivotal role in the mission of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He criticized the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Mr. Thackeray, accusing them of halting all development projects in Mumbai, including the bullet train, Mumbai metro, and the container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.
Modi declared that he possesses a 10-year report card and a 25-year roadmap, contrasting it with the INDIA bloc, which he claimed has nothing but as many prime ministerial candidates as the number of partners in the alliance.
Taking aim at the Congress, Modi alleged that the party was fighting a battle for survival and could go to any extent to save itself. He criticized their manifesto, labeling it “Maoist” and accusing them of eyeing gold from temples and planning a 50% inheritance tax. Modi warned against what he called the party’s plan for an “X-ray of your property” to be handed over to their vote bank, referring to it as “vote jihad.”
The rally saw the presence of prominent leaders including Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray sharing the stage with Modi.
In response, Uddhav Thackeray, addressing the INDIA bloc rally at BKC Grounds, launched a scathing counter-attack. He remarked that this election marked the first instance where Modi seemed directionless in his campaign, predicting that voters would oust the BJP government.
Thackeray asserted that Modi’s speech on Friday would be his “last speech as Prime Minister in Mumbai,” declaring that “On June 4, the country will be ‘de-Modified’ and you will remain Narendra Modi, but not as India’s PM.”
Challenging Modi, Thackeray dared him to try and bring down Uddhav Thackeray, warning that Maharashtra would teach him a lasting lesson. He defended his party against accusations of being “nakli” (duplicate), stating that Modi could never undermine the state’s legacy belonging to Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar.
Thackeray further criticized Modi’s frequent visits to Mumbai, likening him to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who waged a prolonged but unsuccessful campaign in Maharashtra. The exchange between Modi and the INDIA bloc leaders underscores the intense political rivalry and the high stakes involved in the upcoming elections.
Uddhav Thackeray condemned Prime Minister Modi for his actions following the tragic Ghatkopar hoarding crash, where 16 people lost their lives. Thackeray criticized Modi for holding a roadshow at the crash site, accusing him of insensitivity by dancing and singing before the last rites of the victims were even performed.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar expressed concern over the current state of affairs, stating that while past leaders worked to strengthen parliamentary democracy, the current challenge lies in protecting the Constitution. Pawar highlighted this as an unprecedented situation brought about by the ruling party.
Arvind Kejriwal, currently out on interim bail until June 1 for campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls, launched a scathing attack on Modi. Kejriwal accused Modi of intending to imprison opposition leaders if he wins the election. He further alleged that Modi has systematically destroyed the political careers of several BJP leaders, including Devendra Fadnavis, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Vasundhara Raje.
The statements from Thackeray, Pawar, and Kejriwal underscore the deep-seated tensions and the high stakes involved in the political landscape. As the election campaign intensifies, leaders from different parties are engaging in fierce rhetoric, highlighting the challenges facing democracy and governance in the country.