India
How many Kashmir Pandits could go back to Valley? asks Uddhav on Prime Minister’s Article 370 pitch | India News – Times of India
Uddhav Thackeray and Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) (file photo)
Addressing a meeting at Sangola in Solapur district, Thackeray questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claims about the positive impact of the decision, particularly asking how many Kashmiri Pandits had been able to return to their homeland in the Kashmir Valley since the abrogation of the article in August 2019. .
Thackeray mocked the BJP’s narrative that scrapping Article 370 had brought peace to the region and given reservations for Dalits, tribals and OBCs. He accused Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of failing to address the real issues faced by the people of Maharashtra, such as the unresolved concerns of farmers. “Instead of focusing on these issues, the BJP is fixated on Article 370,” Thackeray said.
Targeting Shah, he accused the home minister of “amnesia” for claiming he had supported those opposed to the abrogation of Article 370.
‘He forgets that I was there with them to support the decision. Instead of spying on me, tell the people of Maharashtra and the country how many Kashmiri Pandits have returned to their homes in the Kashmir Valley. When they (Kashmiri Pandits) fled their homes, Nobody knew Modi and Shah, and it was Balasaheb Thackeray who gave them shelter in Maharashtra,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said.
Highlighting the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, he said it was late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, and not Modi or Shah, who had provided shelter to the displaced community in Maharashtra as they fled the valley.
Thackeray also joked about the saffron party’s focus on national issues like Ram temple and abrogation of Article 370 while ignoring local concerns like employment opportunities for the people of Maharashtra. “They talk about Article 370 and the Ram Temple, but the people of Maharashtra are worried about employment and their future,” he said. He further clarified that he had never aspired to become chief minister again, saying, “I dream of my Maharashtra, not of holding office.”
The former Prime Minister also condemned Prime Minister Modi and Shah for their inattention to the ongoing violence in Manipur. Referring to the tragic murder of a 31-year-old mother in the state, Thackeray said, “While Modi and Shah are busy with rallies, a woman is being burnt alive in Manipur. Instead of attacking me, they should act like responsible leaders. and tackling violence in Manipur and Kashmir.”
As Maharashtra approaches polls on November 20, Thackeray challenges Prime Minister Modi and Shah to resign if campaigns are prioritized over governance, urging them to tackle the country’s problems rather than just rooting for the BJP to fight. The results will be announced on November 23.
