Uddhav Thackeray interview: ‘BJP conspiring to push Marathis out of Mumbai … as long as I am there, they cannot capture it’

The highly anticipated battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will see the BJP and the Shiv Sena square off against the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirmal Sena (MNS), led by cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, respectively, who have reunited after two decades. The poll plank of the brothers is a combination of a development agenda and an appeal to Marathi asmita (pride).

In an interview, Sena (UBT) president and former CM Uddhav Thackeray accuses the BJP of “conspiring to snatch Mumbai from Maharashtra”, asserts that his party is not against non-Marathis, and admits that while there is confusion about the future of the Opposition MVA and INDIA bloc, he hopes “things will work out”.  Excerpts: For the civic body elections, being held a year after the state elections and after a delay of over four years, you have allied with your cousin Raj Thackeray. What does this election mean for you and your party?

The Shiv Sena was founded during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. At the time, there was an immense struggle and many people sacrificed their lives for Mumbai and for the Marathi identity. After that struggle, Maharashtra got Mumbai. We did not get Mumbai as a gift, the way they (ruling alliance) are now handing it over to (industrialist Gautam) Adani. That is the difference between us.

After Mumbai was secured for Maharashtra, Marathis did not get the respect they deserved. They lost their self-esteem and confidence. To restore that dignity, my father (Balasaheb Thackeray) founded the Shiv Sena. After Balasaheb passed away in 2012, the BJP’s top leadership, largely Gujarati, wanted to stake a claim on Mumbai. That is why they broke the alliance with the undivided Sena in 2014 but failed. In 2017, they did the same and failed again. In 2019, they betrayed me, but even then, they failed.

Then they broke my party. They stole my party, its name, and even my father’s photograph. They did all this because they realised that as long as Uddhav Thackeray is there, they cannot capture Mumbai. Now again, they are conspiring to snatch Mumbai from Maharashtra.

In the city, the sons of the soil — Marathis, fishermen, and other local communities — are not getting houses. Their land is being grabbed. People are being asked whether they eat non-vegetarian food. Marathis are being denied housing based on what they eat. The conspiracy is to push the Marathi manoos out of Mumbai. We will not allow that. This fight is to stop that conspiracy.

So, for you, is this a fight to save Marathi asmita from Gujaratis?

We are not against non-Marathis, but against those who are trying to snatch and loot Mumbai by doing injustice to us. We are not against all the Gujarati or North and South Indians. I am 65 years old now. There are many older Gujaratis in Mumbai whose grandfathers and great-grandfathers have been living in Mumbai. All of them are living here peacefully, in harmony.”

For several years, we have run BMC. We provide quality education in eight different languages, Hindi, Urdu Gujarati among others.”In hospitals, we provide healthcare to everyone without discrimination, and during calamities, our Sainiks never ask whether someone is Marathi or not. How many BJP workers do the same? None.

While you accuse the BJP of abandoning its ideology, when your party split, the rebels accused you of doing the same by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP.

What did they do in Akot when they joined hands with the AIMIM? In Ambernath, they joined hands with the Congress. When the BJP felt it was wrong to ally with the Shiv Sena, they found it right to ally with the traitors of the Sena. How is that fair? In Palghar, the BJP inducted into the party the same person they had earlier accused in connection with the lynching of sadhus in 2020. That is why I call the BJP an amoeba: it keeps changing shape, with no fixed ideology.

The BJP accuses you of abandoning Hindutva. How do you respond to that?

How have I abandoned Hindutva? Today, people’s eyes are opening. They realise they are being brainwashed. Show me one election speech of Narendra Modi or Devendra Fadnavis without Hindu-Muslim polarisation. During the Lok Sabha elections, it was “mangalsutra chori”. Now, for the Mumbai elections, it is “Muslim mayor”.

Why don’t they talk about development? Municipal elections should be about civic facilities, not religion. I am a staunch Hindu, but that does not mean insulting other religions. They are polluting people’s minds.

The BJP also alleges you took credit for the development work they did.

I am taking credit for real, tangible work we did: BDD Chawls, Coastal Road, Atal Setu, Metro lines, Samruddhi Expressway, water tunnels, dams for drinking water, education, and healthcare. I did not stop projects such as Metro, MTHL, or Samruddhi Mahamarg. That is why they could inaugurate them and take credit.

Has Maharashtra politics changed, become more bitter?

Who started it? Who started breaking parties? When people ask why Raj and I came together, I ask, ‘Do you want people who break homes or those who reconcile?’ Reconciliation is part of the Hindu culture: joint families.

After 20 years, you and Raj Thackeray have reunited. Is reconciliation with the BJP also a possibility?

Raj and I were estranged, but Marathi identity, Hindutva, and Maharashtra were never abandoned by either of us. The core remained the same.

We were working separately. If the BJP benefits because we are divided and they succeed in their goal, that should not happen, so we decided to unite. We reunited for a cause.

We were with the BJP for Hindutva. But today, I don’t understand the BJP’s version or framework of Hindutva. They have banned cow slaughter in Maharashtra but not in Goa or the North-East. They create Hindu-Muslim divisions. If I join Congress, I am told I have abandoned Hindutva, but when they do all this, it’s acceptable? When BJP does something, it’s Amar Prem; when we do it, it’s Love Jihad. They were not part of the freedom struggle or the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. They only create fights. They are dangerous

With this alliance with the MNS, what is the future of the Maha Vikas Aghadi? Is there any confusion, as both the NCP parties have also united?

There is surely a state of confusion. It is there. But slowly, this confusion will go away. Time needs to be given to it. Nothing happens overnight. We tried the INDIA alliance, then MVA.

So, are you admitting there is confusion in the INDIA alliance too?

Yes, there is confusion. Why should I deny? But I hope things work out. Experience is the greatest teacher. But the INDIA alliance will remain intact.

What are your views on what is happening in West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee’s allegations against the ED over the raids?

What Mamata ji did was right. There is misuse of the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Whoever joins them gets a clean chit. This is a misuse of power and it must be opposed.

* When you allege Mumbai will be separated from Maharashtra, what exactly do you mean, and is it even possible?

When I say it will be separated, I do not mean it literally. What I mean is they will take over Mumbai. And it has already started.

Why did they impose Hindi (in the primary school curriculum)? Today, I am speaking in Hindi with you. I am not anti-Hindi. But you don’t need to force it upon us. This force shows their intent. Even without being forced, we are speaking Hindi with love.

There are also several Non Maharashtrians who speak better Marathi than me. We are not against non-Marathis who are patriots and respect Marathi.