Uddhav's chaiwala jibe at PM Modi: BJP calls it deeply offensive

Mumbai, Oct 15: The BJP leaders on Wednesday slammed the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's recent interview to his party's mouthpiece 'Samnaa' for making a mockery of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Uddhav in his sharpest criticism of BJP's poster boy said, "If a "chaiwala (tea-seller) can become Prime Minister, why can't I become Maharashtra Chief Minister?"

Reacting sharply to Uddhav's statement, from which the former retracted after some time, the BJP leaders have attacked Uddhav saying it is highly irresponsible and deeply offensive.

"The kind of language they have used was highly irresponsible and deeply offensive. This kind of politics is not acceptible in Maharashtra politics. The people of Maharashtra and not us will give them a fitting reply," said BJP Maharashtra party president Devendra Fadnavis.

Senior BJP leader from Maharashtra and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari slammed Shiv Sena saying, "We have respect for everyone, but if they disrespect us we will not tolerate it."

The BJP, a former Shiv Sena ally, also said that it is aware of Thackeray's secret ambition and has therefore crafted its poll pitch around Modi's call for development.

Experts are also dubbing Shiv Sena's criticism as nothing but its desperation to target Narendra Modi and the BJP. But after Uddhav realised that his statement has backfired, the party quickly came out with a press release saying, "If a common man (Modi) can become a PM, then a I (Uddhav) can also become a chief minister."

Uddhav's statement comes after his comments a few weeks earlier where the Shiv Sena chief declared his chief ministerial ambitions.

Notably, the "chaiwala" comment is a regular among Congress and other staunch opposition of the BJP, Uddhav's remark came as a fall-out of the break-up of his party with BJP after 25 years.

OneIndia News