Mumbai:
Twenty-four hours after Uddhav Thackeray attacked Rahul Gandhi, Bal Thackeray has said, of Gandhi, "The Prince Has Sprouted Wings."
Thackeray Senior has written an editorial in his party's mouthpiece, Saamna, in which he says, "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."
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 more shrill 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.
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.