MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday slammed the BJP, saying the party was trying to finish all other parties and wanted “only one party and no election”. The former Maharashtra CM said that if MPs or MLAs were being split in this manner through ‘Operations’, then they would also have to implement ‘Operation Kamal’ (Lotus). Uddhav further added that the country was moving towards anarchy and people were losing faith in democracy. “The BJP doesn’t have a 2/3rd majority, but 2/3rds of the BJP is now full of imports from other parties.” He also apologised to voters who elected MPs who had defected. “Nine of our MPs were elected against the Modi wave and without using Modi’s face. They stole one seat from us.” In an emotional outreach, Uddhav also offered to resign as Sena (UBT) chief. “I have no desire for leadership. I am ready to step down as Shiv Sena chief if allegations are made. The only condition is that this golden Shiv Sena should not be given to robbers and traitors. Otherwise, I’m not shaken and will not get bogged down. I will stand like a mountain and fulfil my responsibilities,” Uddhav said. Uddhav also hit back at rebel MPs over their claim that the Sena (UBT) would merge with the Congress. “If for 30 years we were with the BJP and we didn’t merge with the BJP, how will we merge with Congress? So those who are saying this are lying,” he added. He addressed the Sena (UBT)’s 60th anniversary celebration at Sion’s Shanmukhananda Hall on Friday evening. This was his first public meeting after the most recent defection of six Lok Sabha MPs. Uddhav’s son, MLA Aaditya Thackeray, and wife Rashmi were also present, along with MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waze — the three Lok Sabha MPs who are still with Uddhav. All of them were present at the event. The MPs were felicitated during the programme. “Some people must be thinking we will lose hope. But we will not. Some people are saying give orders. Balasaheb has given an order earlier (bury those who betray us). We should not judge our success by electoral results. Today, I apologise to voters because they voted for us but our MPs left,” Uddhav said during the public meeting. The moment Uddhav said he was willing to step down, Shiv Sainiks raised slogans asking him to continue as party chief. “I am not a fortune teller. I do not believe in astrology at all. What will be the future of a country where the youth are called cockroaches? Elections are being won and positions are being obtained by doing whatever they want. Even if you have a majority and there are local self-government body polls, you do not want to let anyone contest from the other side,” he said. “Why are you doing this? What are you going to do with the country after getting all this? (Former BJP President JP) Nadda had said that there will be only one party. One Nation, One Election… but their path is moving towards One Party, No Election. You (Shiv Sainiks) have worked hard to get them (defecting MPs) elected. Now you should use your right to hold them accountable. Farmers donated money and these candidates won. Don’t wait for my order… hold them accountable,” Uddhav added. Uddhav said the issue of merging Sena (UBT) with Congress was completely wrong. On the contrary, he said a situation had arisen where the BJP would now join Shinde’s Sena. “Shiv Sena was not born to merge. Rather, it was born for the rights and protection of the Marathi people and Hindutva. Congress also persecuted us. More than half of our life has been spent in enmity with Congress. We had extreme enmity.” He also hit back at defecting MP Omraje Nimbalkar, who said Uddhav was not campaigning due to his health but at least Aaditya Thackeray should step out. “It was said that I do not meet (people), I do not travel. So if I was not coming to campaign, how did you (Omraje Nimbalkar) get elected? I had held many meetings in each constituency… around 8-10 meetings for the Lok Sabha campaign. Then these people got elected. Where will you atone for these sins? How will you erase the stamp of betrayal from your forehead?” Uddhav said.
