MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday likened people participating in the CJP protests to an “avatar of Lord Vishnu”, saying citizens from Mumbai to Delhi had overcome fear and taken to the streets to save the country and democracy.In an interview with Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut in the party mouthpiece Saamna, Uddhav said the government had long ruled through fear, but people were now defying it.“Vishnu has taken the form of the people. I saw it at Jantar Mantar. This is Vishnu, to save the country and religion. Religion is not just Hindu or Muslim. The religion of humanity is being protected by the youth who have come out on the streets. Their parents and grandparents are with them. This is the incarnation of Vishnu born to save the country,” he said.Warning the Centre against ignoring the protests, Uddhav cited student-led movements in neighbouring countries. “Ask Sheikh Hasina, whom you have given shelter to, why she could not crush the students’ movement. Ask Nepal’s Prime Minister why the Gen Z movement could not be suppressed. A country is its people, and they know how to express their opinion in a democracy,” he said.He said public anger could escalate into a larger movement if left unaddressed. “A spark can turn into a revolution. If corrective steps are not taken in time, a grave situation could arise. Once these young people take to the streets, they will not stop until they achieve their goal,” Uddhav said.Targeting the BJP-led Centre, he alleged that people had lost faith in politicians because parties were being split for political gain. He blamed Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged paper leaks and also criticised Union home minister Amit Shah.“The people elected you to govern. Do your job. Why wasn’t the machinery used to prevent paper leaks before they happened?” he asked.Uddhav also claimed that people who backed the BJP since 2014 now felt betrayed. Citing unemployment, inflation, fuel prices, pothole-ridden roads, bridge collapses and alleged irregularities in the Ram temple donation collection, he said the government had failed to deliver.“People feel those they supported have stabbed them in the back. Jobs have not come, inflation has not fallen, petrol and gas prices remain high, roads are full of potholes, bridges are collapsing and nothing of value has been delivered,” he said.
