The confrontation and the war of words between Thackeray and Raj has escalated with Thackeray stating that a videotape of the Mahableshwar conclave in 2003 showed that his son Uddhav’s name for the working president of the party was proposed by Raj and that he will screen this video for the people to know the falsehood of Raj who had told in his speech that it was Thackeray who had appointed Uddhav to the post. Raj had openly criticized his mentor
In a veiled warning to Raj, Thackeray said, “My criticism would not go without response. And the Sena workers would not tolerate my criticism and Raj would have to face the music of the Sena workers and also the consequences,” he stated.
An upset and antagonized Thackeray further said: “It was unexpected from the one who grew in my house and whom I nurtured would criticize me. And Raj should not forget that it is the Shiv Sena that has turned him into what he is today.”
Thackeray, who appeared to have been badly hurt by Raj’s criticism, was in no mood to spare him and referred to him as a spoilt brat who has betrayed the family. “Raj is an “urchin” who needs to be spanked. How has Raj forgotten that he is a part of the dynasty politics which he has criticized,” he added.
“ Now that Raj is shouting and screaming, we would also have to respond with more and better shouting than him.” Thackeray added, “ Raj complained in his speech that when he did not even have the authority to nominate a local unit party chief then how could he nominate his cousin Uddhav to the working president post. Ask this shameless person that on one hand he talks of about authority to nominate a local party chief and on the other hand he said that he had no authority. What nonsense does he speaks,” Thackeray said in the statement.
Thackeray in his concluding statement said, “A boy who played on my shoulders, whom I fed with dry fruits, gave him all the comforts, is today shouting at top of his house criticizing own dynasty. And this attitude and ungratefulness, I never ever dreamt of. Now since he is shouting and screaming, we would have to do the same,” Thackeray said.
Responding to Thackeray’s statement, Raj said on Wednesday, “It’s not a Thackeray war, but the attention is focused and diverted on the Kalyan — Dombivili Muncipal Corporation polls. It is true; I admit and do not deny, that I played on the shoulders of Thackeray. It has been more than 8 -9 years since the election of Uddhav as the working president of the Sena, so there is no use harping on that issue again and again. My attention is not on criticizing anyone but on the municipal polls, “ Raj said.
However, Raj did not fail to once again take a dig at Thackeray and asked what purpose would it serve by screening the videotape of the Sena conclave held in Mahableshwar. Is it an adult film? What happened has happened. What I spoke, I spoke. What different will be shown in the video film? Think for a moment, that if I had taken the decision to appoint Uddhav, it was for Thackery to decide whether that decision was correct or wrong,” he added.
