Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) After many years, the opposition in India has got a face in Narendra Modi and this has created a storm in national politics, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said here Sunday.
"Until now, barring (former prime minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Indian opposition parties lacked an acceptable 'face' before fighting elections. This time, people have a choice, a strong party and a good face in the form of Modi. The National Democratic Alliance has no cause for worry," Thackeray said in an interview to party mouthpiece Saamana.
Thackeray's comments may be a signal that after the recent strain, all is now well between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
On the other hand, the ruling Congress is in a shambles, he said.
"Earlier, right from Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, the Congress had a 'face'. This time, they are not willing to bring forward Rahul Gandhi, or Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra. They don't have a face, but the opposition parties are united under Modi and confidently marching ahead," the Shiv Sena chief said.
"Will this not lead to a repeat of the 'India Shining' campaign (of 2004)?" asked the interviewer, Sanjay Raut, also Saamana's executive editor and Rajya Sabha member.
"Forget it, India will shine in a real sense under Modi. Earlier, 'India Shining' and 'Feel Good' were propounded by the NDA. But this was ridiculed by the opponents. Look now, what is the state of the poor? If that was not 'India Shining' and there was no 'Feel Good' factor at that time, then what do you feel now?" Thackeray countered.
He said when he had travelled abroad a couple of times during that time, Indians used to get great respect and tourists and investors were willing to come to the country.
"But now, the image is that India is steeped in corruption. Being famous is good, but now we are 'infamous' among foreign investors who are backing off from India. In fact, many of our own industrialists are packing their bags and moving out of India due to the maladministration here," Thackeray said.
The Shiv Sena leader also spoke about the recent defections in the party.
He dismissed them as of little significance and said they were of little consequence to the party founded, built and nurtured by the late Bal Thackeray who died in November 2012.
Uddhav said there were questions: "After Bal Thackeray, what? Even now, there are similar questions, so what?"
To a query that ahead of the elections there were a lot of 'Gayarams' (defectors) from the Shiv Sena, Thackeray shot back that there was 'Ram' in the word 'Gayaram'.
"But do they have any of the qualities of Lord Ram? How many people have gone with them? And now that they have gone, it's clear to the public why they went," he said.
He said there were some who quit but are now desperately remembering the late Bal Thackeray.
"They may have got posts and designations in other parties but the love and loyalty of Bal Thackeray and Shiv Sainiks they could get only from the Shiv Sena," he said.
America's double attitude: Books telling the history of oppression of blacks are out, of course, the governor of Florida said - they are spreading hatred
In America, a dual attitude has emerged in the education given to children. Books that reveal the history of oppression of blacks in Florida have been taken off the course. The reason for this is the
10 plays selected for Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Ten plays from India's diverse cultural and linguistic belt have been shortlisted for the prestigious Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META). They would be staged
In any case, Indians leave Kharkiv today, go towards these settlements; Embassy issues new advisory
The Indian Embassy on Wednesday issued a new advisory asking Indians living in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, to leave the city immediately. While issuing an urgent advisory to all Indian
Corona increased in China after the lockdown was lifted: doctors also infected, the government said – Omicron is not a threat, so it was relaxed
After protests against the zero-covid policy in China, the government relaxed and removed the lockdown, but now the situation seems to be getting worse here. There has been an influx of
Containment zone declared, 4 colonies sealed
Two days ago, after 3 people found corona positive in Vidya Nagar, the district administration has swung into action and sealed all these, including Vidya Nagar, Kirti Nagar, Vikas Nagar and Nai Basti
We want good ties with Pakistan: Rajnath
New Delhi, Jan 3 (IANS) India wanted good relations with Pakistan, which should not resort to ceasefire violations, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Saturday."Pakistan is our neighbour and we want
CAA: Long wait of four years after being passed by Parliament, what is there in the notification of CAA? know everything
More than four years after it was passed by Parliament, the rules related to the Citizenship Amendment Act have finally come into force. The Central Government also issued a notification in this
Preparations for changes in 'Lahore 1947' amid the India-Pakistan dispute? Meeting on Sunny Deol's film
There is an atmosphere of tension between India and Pakistan at this time. In Operation Sindoor on 7 May, India gave a befitting reply to the attack in Pahalgam by destroying about 9 Pakistani bases
US' loss of interest in Pakistan a boon: Historian Ayesha Jalal
Kolkata, Jan 24 (IANS) America's loss of interest in Pakistan was a boon, according to historian Ayesha Jalal who Saturday said encouraging signs were there for democracy to return and thrive in
Chinese President Xi Jinping said global conflict can have dire consequences
Chinese President Xi Jinping warned at a meeting of the Davos World Economic Forum on Monday that a global conflict could have dire consequences.
