Photo by BL SONI The master of comebacks, Raj Thackeray, has once again made a return, this time hitting out hard at newly friend-turned-foe Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, Raj Thackeray led a protest, ‘santap morcha’, from Metro Theatre to Churchgate station against railway administration, for the unfortunate event of Elphinstone stampede.
But was the protest really for the stampede, or to gain political mileage? The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which has lost grip in the state is trying very hard to re-establish its stature back in state politics. But, to do so, Raj Thackeray-led MNS seemed to look like using the unfortunate event of stampede for re-gaining its political image back.
Rather than talking about the topic — stampede — Raj Thackeray, was seen targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It seems as if only two or three people are running the country.
BJP president Amit Shah himself called their own promises ‘chunavi jumla’ (election rhetoric). Even (Union minister) Nitin Gadkari said the promise of ‘achhe din’ is like a bone stuck in the throat. It clearly means the government has failed on many fronts,” Raj Thackeray said.
Also Read: Mumbai: Raj Thackeray’s MNS to hold rally on poor quality of rail infrastructure, here are full details
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader, who had a good rapport with Modi and backed his prime ministerial bid in 2014, said he was angry because the country has seen very little progress in the last three years. Raj Thackeray was only seen inciting the fire that was already simmering inside people who were angry with the BJP-led state and central government.
Raj Thackeray who have not been very active in politics in state, who also haven’t participated in any rallies or protest since 2014 Lok Sabha elections, walked with party volunteers and leaders, from Metro Theatre to Western Railway headquarters at Churchgate. But Raj Thackeray didn’t say much on the stampede issue, in his last press conference that was held a week (September 30) back, in which he himself mentioned that MNS leader Bala Nangaonkar has been chasing the Railways for the foot over bridges issue for long time and Sanjay Gavte, activist, has been fighting with the Railways for 15 year for Elphinstone Road station foot overbridge, so why didn’t Raj Thackeray talk about this issue back then or hold any protest on the issue back then.
Why talk now when he knew about it for long time? Simple to gain political mileage, there is an anti-Modi wave going on currently, and people in state also don’t want to go to Congress, or Shiv Sena, so Raj Thackeray is trying very hard to fill in the gap. Raj Thackeray in his Wednesday’s rally also gave an open threat to Railway authority that ‘to remove hawkers from stations in 15 days or else on 16th day my volunteers will do it (by force)’.
Well this brings us back to old days when Raj Thackeray’s, MNS volunteers had already in many occasions have done such things– using force against hawkers — which MNS is known best for. Raj Thackeray in his calm and poised way again incited his volunteers to take law in their hands. But will the protest really help people or is just another issue which Raj Thackeray will again forget in a month’s time like other issues, such as toll collection in state which he gave up on after months.
Raj Thackeray also said that, MNS have organised this rally peacefully but if there is no change in system of government, then our next rally will not be peaceful, well this also not new.
Whatever it is, Raj Thackeray once again did wake his volunteers up and made it clear that he is back. The MNS, which has been struggling to stay relevant since its defeat in the polls, is looking to garner attention and support with this campaign, and has marshalled all its resources to make it a success. It is also clear that Raj Thackeray also has officially joined the anti-Modi league.
