Uddhav Thackeray said he did not switch sides, but only entered into an alliance.
Bombay:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged the opposition to overthrow his government and said that although it is a “three-wheeled” government, it firmly controlled its steering wheel.
Mr. Thackeray, who is also chairman of the Shiv Sena, said his alliance partners – the NCP and Congress – are “positive” and that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is benefiting from their experience.
He also took aim at the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed train project of the Center, saying he would prefer such a high-speed link between the state capital and Nagpur.
“The future of my government is not in the hands of the opposition. The leadership is in my hands. A three-wheeler (auto-rickshaw) is a poor man’s vehicle. The other two are sitting behind,” he said. Mr Thackeray said in the second and final part of his interview published in spokesman Shiv Sena “Saamana” on Sunday, ahead of his 60th birthday on Monday.
“Why wait September-October as it is supposed to. Get rid of the government right now since you have fun overthrowing. Some people take pleasure in constructive work while others are happy in destruction. If you feel happy in destruction, go ahead, ”he told me.
“You say the MVA government is formed against democratic principles but when you overthrow it, is it democracy?” asked the chief minister.
Notably, his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis earlier compared the ruling MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena and its ideological opponents, Congress and NCP, with a three-wheeler, auto-rickshaw, and raised doubts about its stability.
To a question, Mr Thackeray said he did not switch sides, but only entered into an alliance.
“I did it because the goal I had joined my hands with earlier turned out hollow,” he said.
Claiming that the party’s ideology is important, he said, “Show me a leader who has reached the top position in the party he defected to. Everything is political.”
Targeting the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, he said: “A three-wheeler is a poor man’s vehicle. If I have to choose between a high speed train and an automatic rickshaw, I will choose the rickshaw. I don’t want a bullet train, so that’s not going to happen, ”he says.
“If my government is a three-wheeler it is going in the right direction, why would you have a stomach ache?” he said during a veiled attack on the BJP opposition.
Mr Thackeray said during his last attendance at the NDA meeting, “there were 30 to 35 wheels like a railroad train”.
The chief minister has said he will abandon projects that people deem undesirable.
He said the recently signed Rs 16,000 crore MoUs were in the initial stages and more investments were underway.
“If the state needs a high speed train, I would require a high speed train to connect Mumbai and Nagpur. I would like a high speed train that connects my state capital and the second capital. The feeling of neglect of the inhabitants of Vidarbha would be destroyed. Just like the Mumbai Nagpur Samruddhi corridor, I would be happy with a high speed train, ”he said.
He also said Congress’ grievance of being overlooked in the tripartite alliance government was resolved after his meeting with the state’s congressional leaders.
“I have good coordination with (NCP leader) Sharad Pawar. I call (the president of the Congress) Sonia Gandhi a few times, ”he said.
Mr. Thackeray said the MVA tripartite government was working well.
“I admit that in the past few months no face-to-face meeting has taken place. Another minister is now positive for coronavirus after Jitendra Awhad, Ashok Chavan and Dhananjay Munde. All ministers are in touch with each other. others by phone or videoconference, ”he said.
Mr Thackeray admitted that the state’s economy was not healthy, but noted that the whole world was facing such a crisis.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called on all key ministers not to announce waivers or subsidies as populist measures that would cause the economy to be even more burdened.
In an apparent reference to his criticism of not moving during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Thackeray said discussions and deliberations as well as the signing of memoranda of understanding were underway by him sitting at his home.
Asked about the participation of Chinese companies in investing in the state, he said more than the presence of Chinese companies in the recent memoranda of understanding, the important thing is whether or not Chinese investments should stay in. the country.
“During a videoconference meeting with the prime minister, I asked him to define a national policy on trade relations with China,” he said.
Mr Thackeray also said his government has kept memoranda of understanding with Chinese companies on hold.
“There should be a policy on whether Chinese companies should be allowed to do business in the country. If tomorrow the situation improves and the Chinese Premier is welcome in India, why should we miss the opportunities commercial now? ” He asked.
The chief minister also dismissed criticism that the bureaucracy has the upper hand over his government.
“The government is the decision maker and the bureaucracy implements the decisions,” he added.
