Lok Sabha polls: All is well between Shiv Sena & Gujaratis, says Aditya Thackeray

MUMBAI: Barely 24 hours after the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna questioned the Gujarati community’s contribution towards Maharashtra’s development and alleged that they don’t even celebrate Maharashtra Day, the party’s youth wing chief and Bal Thackeray's grandson Aditya Thackeray said on Friday that all’s well and that the article was, in fact, "completely misconstrued and twisted".

But despite Junior Thackeray’s assertions, some Sena leaders have admitted that there’s a growing tension between the Sena and Gujarati community in Mumbai, especially after BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s solo rally in the city, where the Sena wasn’t invited.

"The article in Saamna has been twisted with wrong translation. There has been no lashing out at any one, in fact, the article urges for common identity and realisation of the Janma Bhoomi and Karma Bhoomi of many generations of Gujaratis," Thackeray tweeted on Friday afternoon.

The Saamna editorial even suggested that the Gujarati community in the city still consider Gujarat to be their home. "Living in Mumbai, they have enjoyed the benefits of wealth. They have filled their coffers. They have exploited Mumbai like a prostitute. People who came here carrying a lota have created cities of gold for themselves."

But Thackeray denied any 'lashing out' at anyone or community, and went on to add that the Sena believes that the Gujarati community has always stood behind Balasaheb Thackeray. "We too have stood behind them in times of need such as the Bhuj earthquake," said Thackeray.

However, some Sena leaders admit that things aren’t quite the same ever since the BJP held a rally at the MMRDA grounds in Mumbai without taking the Sena on board.

When Bal Thackeray was the Sena chief, the BJP always played a second fiddle, but after his death, and with Mod’s resurgence, the BJP in Maharashtra is giving indications that it wants to call the shots.