Uddhav Thackeray targets BJP over jewellers' stir, Deonar fire

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday slammed the BJP government at the Centre for imposing 1% excise duty on nonsilver jewellery. Criticising the central government during a meeting with jewellers, he said, “You (jewellers) have been protesting for a month now but no one is talking to you...You are giving a red carpet welcome to Pakistanis who were involved in the Pathankot attack, but not talking to the jewellers from your own country. What kind of thinking is this?“ Sena president also said that all their MPs would side with the jewellers and support their agitation.

Uddhav is the second leader who has come out strongly against the BJP on the excise duty issue. In fact, MNS chief Raj Thackeray had also strongly supported the jewellers a few days back.

Uddhav also used the occasion to point fingers at the BJP-led Maharashtra government's failure to control fire at Deonar dumping ground. Many fire incidents caused by ragpickers have become a major health hazard for people in the surrounding areas. Earlier, BJP has been targeting the Sena-led BMC for its inability to tackle the crisis.

However, Uddhav on Wednesday sought to put the onus on the BJP. He said, “The BMC is with the Sena but the administration and the state is being run by BJP.The municipal commissioner is appointed by the state govt and not by the Mayor (who is from the Sena). So the Centre, state govt and BMC should come together to solve the issue or else the Sena will have to decide on its own to resolve the issue.“