In a snub to Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, one of the constituents of 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) supporting the NDA government, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today asked its chief Raju Shetti to stop protesting against Union government all too often.
"Raju Shetti should refrain from protesting against the Union government every time. We are a part of the government which is in power at Centre and very soon we will be (in) power in the state as well. Protests should be done only when all attempts to hold discussions fail," Uddhav said.
Uddhav was speaking at a function here wherein Haji Arafat Shaikh, a former vice-president of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and its Muslim face, joined Shiv Sena.
Uddhav's comments came against the backdrop of Shetti's recent criticism of the agricultural policies being adopted by the Narendra Modi government.
Shetti had said that he was unhappy with Centre for its decision to include agriculture commodities - onion and potato - under the Essential Commodities Act and not fulfilling the promise of ensuring 50 per cent profit over input cost of a crop.
Shaikh, who previously headed the Vahtook (transport) wing of MNS, has now been appointed as the president of the transport wing of Shiv Sena.
"I have joined Shiv Sena so that I get a chance to work for the people of Maharashtra, the taxi drivers, rickshaw drivers and the transporters under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray. I stick to the allegations that I made against (Raj) Thackeray when I left his party. He is a leader who goes back on his words.." Shaikh told reporters.
Shaikh said there is no point working with Raj Thackeray as the latter cannot take care of his workers.
A former Shiv Sainik Shaikh had walked out of the party with Raj Thackeray who later founded MNS.
