Sena says their chief is in Beed district touring drought affected areas; BJP and RPI workers say, by boycotting the events, the party has shown their ego is more important
While Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday did the bhoomipujan of Andheri East-Dahisar and Dahisar-D N Nagar Metro lines at MMRDA grounds in BKC, Shiv Sena leaders boycotted the event and were conspicuous by their absence. However, Sena leaders said chief Uddhav Thackeray was in Beed district touring drought-affected areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, RPI president Ramdas Athawale and Minister for Higher and Technical Education Vinod Tawde at the bhoomipujan for two new Metro lines at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) yesterday. Pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
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Sources said that the Sena is known for getting large number of supporters for their events. However, on Sunday it was seen that the BJP and Republican Party of India had done their groundwork, and also brought as many people as possible in private buses, which included not only children but also senior citizens.
These people were brought from different neighbouring villages, towns and cities. The 4 hectares MMRDA ground had about 42,000 people attending the function, an official said. “We showed the Shiv Sena leadership that we can get our people in their own backyard, just a little distance from Matoshree,” said a BJP leader.
The national party also emphasized the fact that they had more MLAs in the government than Sena, and so boycotting their leader’s event was a bad move. Meanwhile, BJP leaders said by skipping a function vital for Mumbai’s transportation needs, the Shiv Sena has only shown that their ego is more important than anything else.
There were also talks among BJP and RPI party workers, that by boycotting such an event just because of their ego, the Shiv Sena has proven that they are very narrow minded. “Today was an important day as not only bhoomipujan of two new metro lines was done, but the bhoomipujan for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial was also done, and by boycotting such an important event where PM Narendra Modi was himself present, the Shiv Sena’s image has been damaged in the minds of the general public,” said a local RPI leader.
Uddhav in Marathwada
A Shiv Sena leader said, “The reason we decided to boycott the programme, is because BJP sent the invitation to Uddhavji on Saturday, which was less than 24 hours before it. Our leader is on a visit to the drought affected Beed district in Marathwada region, along with other ministers from the party, and due to the step motherly treatment given to us, we all decided to boycott the event. For us our self respect is more important than anything else.”
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, “All our senior leaders and ministers, along with Uddhavji, have been on a tour of the drought affected Marathwada region. We have been touring the drought-affected areas and distributing aid to farmers, as this is more important for us, and our programme was decided in advance.
Today we were in Beed district. Helping those who are in need, and doing social work has been in our blood and very close to our heart, and that is why we have been touring the drought affected areas in Marathwada.”
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