Uddhav Thackeray compares PM Modi to Putin, says country heading towards autocracy

Uddhav Thackeray

In an exclusive conversation with News18, as he led an election campaign , Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray spoke on a range of issues related to Maharashtra and the political prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. His comments comes ahead of the fifth phase of the ongoing general elections. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Nashik will have polling in this round on May 20.

Thackeray claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was planning to ban its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), after winning a third term in power. "The way they tried to use and throw the Shiv Sena, a similar game will be played by Narendra Modi in future (with the RSS), and that has been stated by (BJP president J P) Nadda," he said.

Thackeray mainly focussed on Modi and his policies. He accused PM Modi of stirring controversies through his rhetoric and claimed that the BJP is shifting its narratives, from pledges of securing a majority to allegations of dynasty politics.

The Sena (UBT) chief hit out at PM Modi for repeatedly targeting him and Sharad Pawar. In his recent speeches, Modi had called Thackeray's party "nakli Sena" and described Pawar as a "bhatakti aatma" (wandering soul).

He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting him and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar. Thackeray said Modi's desire is to reclaim the PM's post rather than pave the way for the next generation. Thackeray emphasized loyalty versus betrayal battle in the Lok Sabha election, highlighting the significance the coalition model against Modi's rhetoric.

Referring toBJP president JP  Nadda's comments to a newspaper , Thackeray  said when the BJP was a small party and less capable, it needed the RSS, but now the saffron party has grown, become more capable, and "runs itself".

"Nadda said there was a need of the RSS until now, (but) we are capable now and we don't need the RSS. If they (BJP) came to power, it is a bigger danger for RSS workers because they will ban the RSS," Thackeray claimed. In the past, (then Union home minister) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had banned the RSS, he noted.

"Those who call our party 'nakli' (fake) Shiv Sena will call the Sangh 'nakli'," Thackeray further said, referring to Prime Minister Modi's jibe at the Sena (UBT).

The regional behemoth went to compare the prevailing situation in India to Russia. Our country is going in Russia's direction. Like the political processes in Russia, our political processes are now meant to serve just one leader- that is Narendra Modi.

Thackeray said there was no difference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin while accusing the former of slowly destroying democracy in the country.