New Delhi:
Twenty-four hours after Uddhav Thackeray warned Rahul Gandhi to stay away from Mumbai, Gandhi's party has confirmed that he will visit the city on Friday.
On Wednesday, Thackeray said at a press conference, "Rahul should not interfere in Marathi affairs...Rahul should stop all this or we won't allow him into Mumbai." But in an interview to NDTV's Barkha Dutt, Thackeray, on Thursday, clarified that for this trip, the Sena will not take any action against Gandhi, but he now stands warned for any future visits.
(Watch: Rahul must not repeat such comments: Uddhav to NDTV)Gandhi's trip to Mumbai, which includes stops at two colleges, was scheduled before Thackeray threatened him. Sources in the Congress government admit that they're nervous about security arrangements in view of the Sena's position on Gandhi.
In the last few days, Rahul Gandhi has taken on the Thackerays over their migrant politics for Mumbai. Gandhi said that "Mumbai belongs to all Indians." He also said that during 26/11, many of the commandos who fought to save Mumbai were from North India. Gandhi's remarks were made in Bihar, a state whose residents have repeatedly been targeted by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai. (
Read: Rahul Gandhi slams Sena; says India belongs to all Indians)
Uddhav Thackeray has been getting shriller in his keep-outsiders-away-from-Mumbai campaign. The new pitch is attributed to the success his estranged cousin and political rival, Raj Thackeray, has enjoyed in recent elections, mainly as a result of his Marathi Manoos campaign.
On Wednesday morning, Uddhav's father, Bal Thackeray said, of Gandhi, "The Prince Has Sprouted Wings." Thackeray Senior wrote an editorial in his party's mouthpiece, Saamna, in which he said, "Rahul Gandhi has insulted Maharashtra and its people." Thackeray goes on to say, "We agree with his statement that 'Mumbai belongs to all Indians'. As Shiv Sena chief, I have never said Mumbai is not a part of India. We have never encouraged separatism in Maharashtra or among its people. But we do not need him to tell us that this nation has to stay one and united." (
Read: Latest round in Thackerays vs Rahul Gandhi)
Since last month, migrant politics in Mumbai has taken the national centre stage. The debate was triggered by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra who said that
taxi drivers in Mumbai would need to prove fluency in Marathi to get their permits renewed. More than half the city's taxi
drivers are from North India. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan quickly changed his stand after gigantic public criticism. Gujarati and Hindi-speaking drivers were eligible, he said. The Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray have said the U-turn is not acceptable to them.
The Sena has also attacked actor Shah Rukh Khan for stating that it's wrong that not a
single Pakistani player will play in IPL3. Shah Rukh has refused to apologize for his statements.