BJP eyeing BMC funds: Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Feb 18: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday claimed that BJP was "eyeing" the funds of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. "BMC is probably the only corporation in the country which is not in debt but has huge money in the banks, which the BJP is eyeing.

But we will not let them get hold of the money because this is people's money....BJP can stoop to the lowest level for its motives," Thackeray said, addressing his final rally ahead of February 21 civic polls in Mumbai.

Taking a swipe at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said it was ironic that a man who wore a suit of Rs 10 lakh talks about another PM (former PM Manmohan Singh) wearing a raincoat'. If a Padma Vibhushan could be given to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, why was a Bharat Ratna not awarded to the freedom fighter and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, he asked.

"Before the Lok Sabha polls, you (Modi) criticised Sharad Pawar and his nephew (Ajit Pawar) as being most corrupt. After the elections, you went on to say that you learnt politics holding his (Sharad Pawar's) finger. Now (Chief Minister Devendra) Fadnavis should ask Modi which finger of the PM he should hold," Uddhav said.

Modi replaced Mahatma Gandhi in the iconic charkha photo, and he might go on to declare himself the Mahatma or the father of the nation next, the Sena chief said. Referring to a line in BJP's advertisement campaign (later withdrawn) Mumbai and BJP: Made for each other,' Uddhav said it was now time for the people to say "chal hatt" (get lost) to BJP.

PTI