In a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said he delivered a “rudali” (professional mourner) like speech at the joint rally, reported news agency PTI.
He “thanked” MNS president Raj Thackeray for crediting him in reuniting the two Thackeray cousins.
Earlier in the day, the Thackeray cousins shared the public stage at a victory rally in Mumbai to celebrate the rollback of two GRs issued earlier by the government introducing Hindi as a third language from class 1 in state schools.
Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray, in a lighter vein, credited Fadnavis for bringing together the two cousins which even Bal Thackeray couldn`t do.
“Balasaheb Thackeray must be blessing me. I was told it was supposed to be a `vijay` (victory) rally, but it turned out to be a `rudali` speech,” Fadnavis said in a veiled reference to Uddhav Thackeray, reported PTI.
“Rudali” refers to a female professional mourner in certain regions, particularly in Rajasthan, where they were hired to publicly express grief during funerals, especially in upper-caste families.
Fadnavis said no word was spoken about Marathi at the event and the speech (delivered by Uddhav) focused on how his government was toppled and how they can regain power, reported PTI.
“The rally was not Vijay utsav but a `rudali` darshan,” the chief minister said.
He stated that despite ruling the Mumbai civic body for 25 years, they (the undivided Sena) failed to bring in development, reported PTI.
“Conversely, under Modi`s leadership, we have transformed Mumbai. We gave Marathi people their rightful homes at BDD and Patra chawls (tenements), which made them (Uddhav-led) jealous,” he said, reported PTI.
The chief minister said he was proud to be Marathi and Hindu. “All Marathi and non-Marathi people are with us”.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Raj Thackeray spoke in Marathi`s interests but Uddhav Thackeray showed his desperation for power at the cousins` rally to celebrate the government`s retreat on the issue of teaching Hindi in schools.
Minister Uday Samant, who belongs to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, similarly sought to distinguish between the two cousins, slamming only Uddhav who leads the rival Shiv Sena (UBT).
Talking to reporters, Shinde, without naming Uddhav Thackeray, said his desperation for power and jealousy were on display at the rally, and he should answer why the Marathi manoos (native Marathi speakers) were driven out of Mumbai in all these years.
“One expressed desire for the good of Marathi, the other spewed bile for power. Some people had said (before the rally) that there will be no party flag in the victory celebration. One speaker (Raj) followed it, the other (Uddhav) conveyed his agenda. This is the difference,” Shinde said, reported PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
