Mumbai: Even as MNS chief Raj Thackeray maintained a studied silence on an alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT) after their ‘victory rally’ this month, Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday reiterated that the two cousins are together.“Whoever has a problem with two brothers coming together should deal with it. We will fulfil Maharashtra’s dream together. The right decision will be taken at the right time,” Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav said in an interview with the party newspaper Saamna on Sunday.When asked if any talks were held on the two coming together politically, he said, “Talks will happen. We came together after 20 years. That’s not a small thing. I am ready to do whatever is necessary for the Marathi people, language, and the culture of Maharashtra.”“I can pick up the phone and call him. He can call me. Why does anyone have a problem with us meeting? The Thackerays don’t meet secretly. If we have to meet, we will meet openly.”He added, “As a result of us coming together, not only are the Marathi people happy, but so are those who speak other languages. Even our Muslim brothers are happy.”When asked about the MVA alliance for polls in municipal corporations, Uddhav said, “When we held talks recently, the Congress said they may take decisions at the local level. If that’s the case, that’s what we will do.”Clearing the air about his recent meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state legislature, Uddhav said, “I went to meet him. After all, he is the chief minister, and we hope he does some good. But as a former political ally, I can only advise him to put an end to the controversies surrounding his ministerial colleagues. Finally, it will affect Fadnavis’s reputation.”On the controversy over the imposition of Hindi in schools, he said, “BJP is instigating divisions between different states. But our position is clear. We are not against Hindi, but we do not want it to be imposed on us.”Attacking BJP, Uddhav said his party was split in order to hand over the ownership of Mumbai to the Adani group. “Land in Dharavi has been handed over to the Adani group. Why are the mill workers not given free land?” he asked. He further said that the Maharashtra Public Security Bill, which was recently passed by the state legislature, would prevent justice for the public of Dharavi. “The people who ask for their rights in Dharavi will go to jail. That’s what this law is about.”Uddhav also took a dig at the possibility of PM Modi retiring at the age of 75. “He may even announce his retirement. Then he will say, ‘how can I break people’s hearts’, and he will resume. People will be brought onto the streets, and there will be nautanki.”Criticising the central govt over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, he asked: “The question is how did this attack happen, and how did the terrorist venture so deep inside? And after three months, why have they not even been traced?”He also said the public needed to be told why Operation Sindoor was called off. “The US President repeatedly says he stopped the war between India and Pakistan. And our brave PM is silent.”
