Mumbai: BJP MLA R Tamil Selvan on Monday defended party leader K Annamalai’s remarks about Mumbai, saying his statements, aimed at highlighting the city’s global importance, had been deliberately misconstrued for political gains.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) last week demanded that Annamalai be arrested for his remark that “Bombay is not a Maharashtra city”.
While campaigning for the January 15 civic body elections last week, former IPS officer and ex-Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai had said, “People want a triple engine government. This is the only metro city in the country where a triple engine is possible. Modi is in Delhi, Fadnavis is the chief minister, and now Mumbai will have a BJP mayor. Mumbai is not a Maharashtra city but an international city.”
Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, Annamalai said he had received multiple threats, including threats to cut off his legs.
“Who are Aaditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I am proud to be a farmer’s son. They have organised meetings just to abuse me. I don’t know whether I have become that important,” Annamalai said as per a video by ANI. “Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. I will come to Mumbai—try cutting my legs. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village. If I say Kamaraj is one of India’s greatest leaders, does it mean he is no longer a Tamil? If I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t build it? These people are just ignorant,” the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief added.
The row escalated after Thackeray, at a joint UBT–MNS rally in Mumbai on Sunday, mocked Annamalai for suggesting that Mumbai is an “international city.” “One rasmalai came from Tamil Nadu… what is your connection to here? Hatao lungi, bajao pungi,” he said, invoking his uncle Bal Thackeray’s old slogan from the 1960s and 1970s.
Thackeray also targeted migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, warning: “People from UP and Bihar should understand that Hindi is not your language. I don’t hate the language… but if you try to impose it, I’ll kick you. They’re coming from all sides to Maharashtra and snatching away your share. If land and language are gone, you will be finished,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj Thackeray mounted a joint attack on the BJP, accusing the rival party of promoting “fake Hindutva.” They said their political reunion was prompted by an imminent “danger” to Mumbai.
Uddhav said he and Raj Thackeray had set aside their differences in the interest of the Marathi manoos, Hindus, and Maharashtra. Appealing to the core Marathi vote bank, Raj said the two leaders had come together as Mumbai faced a threat. Calling the BMC polls the “last election for the Marathi man,” he warned: “If you miss this opportunity today, you will be finished. Unite for Marathi and Maharashtra.”
The State Election Commission in Maharashtra has announced elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state, including the Pune Municipal Corporation, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Polling will be held on January 15, with counting scheduled for January 16.
