Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah without naming them, and held them responsible for a ‘backdoor Emergency’ in India. He said, earlier, the media kept watch on the government and now, the government is keeping watch on the media. During the Emergency, Thackeray pointed out, there had been no option to Indira Gandhi, but it was history that she was dethroned when all other political parties came together against her.
Speaking at a function organised by a journalists’ organisation, Thackeray, taking a cue from the Punya Prasun Bajpai incident, remarked, ‘One now hears, is there a second Emergency stealing in through the backdoor?’ He said, “Media is the fourth pillar of democracy, but the current situation makes one wonder whether this pillar is wobbly. In a democracy, the people are supreme, hence the media needs to keep up its attack and destroy this emergency.”
Referring to the Punya Prasun Bajpai expose of the doubling of farm income, he said people now humbly remark, times are difficult now. Thackeray said when the late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray spoke in the same vein, he was criticised for being anti-media. He added the pen should have the power of the sword and it was time a directionless society was shown the right path. The Sena president stated it was very difficult to wage a fight. “The pen is akin to a sword and those in power are clever enough to make it rusty by sprinkling fake concern. Once the pen gathers rust, then how can one use it to write anything,” remarked Thackeray.
Referring to the late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s slogan of uprooting corruption, Thackeray said, “Since then, this fashion of making catchy slogans or phrases like “Garibi Hatao” and “Acche Din” has come into use. This jumlebazi has damaged the country.” “Is it possible to give housing for all by 2022 and double farm income?” he asked.
In the evening, addressing a gathering on the occasion of the anniversary of ‘Marmik’, another Sena mouthpiece, Thackeray said, there was unrest among the people and they are protesting on the streets for justice. “There is a lack of jobs and the government is busy implementing ‘One Nation, One Election’. Thackeray suggested for better democracy, the Prime Minister and Chief Minister should not participate in the poll campaign of any candidate.