Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has attacked industrialist Mukesh Ambani over his recent statement that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.
“Marathi people have as much right over Mumbai as Mukesh Ambani has over Reliance companies,” Thackeray said in an article published in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ today.
The Shiv Sena also came down heavily on actor and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders team, Shah Rukh Khan, for his recent statement that Pakistani cricketers should be allowed to participate in the coming Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.
On Ambani, the Sena chief made it clear that Mumbai is Maharashtra’s capital and it would remain so. He advised the Reliance Industries chairman not to meddle in the path of Mumbai and ‘Marathi Manoos’.Thackeray said: “When ‘Pandit Mukesh Ambani’ says Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi belong to all Indians, why has he left out cities likes Ahmedabad, Jamnagar and Rajkot?”
Thackeray’s criticism comes in the wake of Mukesh Ambani’s statement that the recent controversy over making the knowledge of Marathi mandatory for issuing taxi permits in Mumbai was ‘unfortunate’ and his subsequent statement that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.
The Shiv Sena patriarch had in November last year asked ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to stick to cricket and not venture into politics through his statement that Mumbai belonged to all Indians.
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Thackeray’s swipe against Mukesh Ambani is crucial as the close relationship between the Sena chief and RIL’s founder and Mukesh’s late father Dhirubhai Ambani is well known. “Uptil now, I considered Mukesh Ambani a true Mumbaikar. His father and my friend, the late Dhirubhai, was loyal to Mumbai. The Ambanis could spread their industrial empire because of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Dhirubhai had always acknowledged his indebtedness to Maharashtra. Then why Mukesh has chosen a different path?” Thackeray asked.
Sena activists today tore down posters of the actor’s upcoming film ‘My Name is Khan’ and also threatened not to allow the screening of the film.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said his party would not tolerate anybody praising Pakistanis.