In a veiled attack on the ruling Shiv Sena, rival faction leader Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday wondered whether women would trust traitors who have betrayed their parent party as brothers. Addressing a gathering in Paithan town, Thackeray alleged that traitors were projecting themselves as brothers to get women’s support. His oblique reference was to the Eknath Shinde-led government’s monthly money transfer scheme for women.
“Will you trust these people as your brothers who have betrayed their original political party?” he asked. Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Behin Yojana, launched a few months before the assembly elections, eligible women get Rs 1,500 per month. Emphasising that justice delayed is justice denied, Thackeray said he was seeking justice in the court of the people which is supreme.
“We have faith in the Supreme Court,” Thackeray said, referring to the appeal filed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) in the apex court in the disqualification case against MLAs of the rival faction. The former chief minister justified the protest over the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school in Badlapur, referring to the agitation in West Bengal over the rape and murder of a doctor at a Kolkata hospital.
Thackeray said people have the right to seek justice against the delay in filing an FIR by the police in the Badlapur incident. “But the police took action against the protesters,” he said. The former chief minister said, “When we protest, we are accused of politicising the issue. Protesters have the right to seek justice as is happening in Bengal.” He said Thackeray may not be in power, but he knows how to fulfil the promises made to the people. In a clear rebuttal to the BJP’s criticism of dynastic politics, he said, “This is our gharanashahi to fulfil promises.”
