Shiv Sena is all rhetoric sans action, says Cong leader

Mumbai, Oct 12 Attacking Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray for criticising Rahul Gandhi over the 'dalali' remark, Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil today said the Sena has turned Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation into an "international university of dalali" under its long rule.

Patil, opposition leader in Maharashtra Assembly, also mocked the Sena for "lecturing" others on "dalali" and said, "Shiv Sena's weapons are now obsolete and there is sharpness only in their rhetoric and not in their action."

"It is a joke that the Sena should lecture others on dalali. The Mumbai civic body (BMC) which it rules, is the international university of dalali," he alleged.

Rahul had said last week, "Jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strike kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. Yeh bilkul galat hai. {You (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) are hiding behind the blood of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and those who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices, which is very wrong}."

Patil told reporters, "Uddhav has used his party's annual Dussehra rally to satisfy his wish to pass public remarks against Modi and (CM Devendra) Fadnavis. Last week, Sena ministers met the Chief Minister to demand a special sitting of the state legislature on the issue of Maratha reservation.

"Fadnavis has paid no heed to this demand. Still, Sena is quiet," he said. "Uddhav dares BJP to snap alliance. But, this government is of BJP and the party is the single largest partner in the government. Sena joined later to enjoy ministerial perks. Asking BJP to snap alliance is sheer double standards," the Congress leader alleged.

"He (Uddhav) talks of a theme park and war museum to be constructed. Instead, he should clarify his stand on (the demand for) Balasaheb Thackeray memorial at his residence 'Matoshree'," he said.

Referring to Uddhav's statement that Sena was the first to demand loan waiver to farmers, Patil said Congress implemented loan waiver in 2008.

"Last year, farmers faced tough situation due to a long spell of drought. Farmers were committing suicide. The plight of farmers did not move the BJP-Sena government. Sena does not have moral right to speak on loan waiver," he said.

PTI