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By Mustafa Shaikh: Uddhav Thackeray is fighting anti-democratic forces and the central agencies are targeting his party, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said after meeting the former Maharashtra chief minister in Mumbai today. Venugopal arrived in the city this evening for the meeting at the Thackeray residence, Matoshree. The meeting was attended by Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) leader Sanjay Raut, senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat, Bhai Jagtap and others.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Venugopal said: “I came here to convey the message from Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The message is clear. Uddhav ji is fighting anti-democratic forces. The central agencies are targeting Shiv Sena (UBT). The opposition parties want to fight together. There’s consensus. Our ideologies are different but there is a need to fight together.”
“We have witnessed how democracy has been sabotaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. All the opposition parties have a general consensus to fight together against the dictatorship of PM Modi,” Venugopal said, reported news agency PTI.
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Venugopal invited Uddhav Thackeray to Delhi for a meeting with Sonia Gandhi and said that Rahul Gandhi may soon come to Mumbai.
The BJP could not see who is a friend and who is an opponent despite a near-three-decade-long relationship, Uddhav Thackeray said at the joint press conference.
“We maintained a relationship with the BJP for 25-30 years, but they did not understand who was a friend and who was an opponent. We will together fight the fight for democracy in the country: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Mumbai after meeting Congress leaders.
Thackeray also spoke about the BJP’s attempt to break up parties. This comes amid speculation about Ajit Pawar joining the BJP.
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“The way they broke up our party and made people revolt, similar attempts are being made with other parties. JP Nadda had made his intention clear that they want only one party to survive. A coalition is shaping up against those who want one party in democracy. The fight is against those who are power hungry. I welcome Venugopal ji. I keep speaking with Sonia ji and Kharge ji. We work with friends with a special bond,” he said.
Last week, Thackeray was criticized when he went to Silver Oak to meet Sharad Pawar. “Matoshree has lost its power,” his opponents said after the meeting.Now, a Congress leader from the central leadership coming to Matoshree for a meeting is being seen as an important development for the opposition.
The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party constitute the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, which was in power in the state till June last year, when a rebellion led by Sena leader Eknath Shinde caused a split in the party. Shinde went on to become the chief minister with the support of the BJP and subsequently got the Sena’s bow-and-arrow symbol and name from the Election Commission.
(With input from PTI)
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