Raj and Uddhav spark reunion buzz, say ready to ignore trivial issues in Maharashtra's interest
Mumbai, Apr 19 (PTI): MNS leader Raj Thackeray has sparked speculation about a potential political rapprochement with his estranged cousin and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, noting their past differences are "trivial" and uniting for the greater good of "Marathi manoos" is not a difficult task.
The buzz strengthened when Uddhav on Saturday said he is ready to put aside trivial fights provided that those working against Maharashtra's interests will not be entertained, a veiled reference to Raj hosting Shiv Sena head and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde at his residence.
In an interview with actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar’s podcast, released on Saturday, Raj said he had no issues working with Uddhav when they were in the undivided Shiv Sena. Raj said the question is, does Uddhav want to work with him?
"For a bigger cause, our fights and issues are trivial. Maharashtra is very big. For Maharashtra, the existence of Marathi manoos, these fights are very trivial. I don't think it is a difficult task to come together and stay united. But the issue is of desire.
"It is not the question of my desire or selfishness. We need to look at the larger picture. All Maharashtrians should form one party," Raj said when asked whether the two estranged cousins could come together politically.
Raj, for his part, stressed that ego should not be brought to dictate such small issues.
Responding to Raj, Uddhav told Shiv Sena (UBT) workers, "I am also ready to put aside trivial issues and I appeal to everyone to come together for the sake of Marathi manoos."
Without taking the name of his cousin, Uddhav said had the MNS president opposed Maharashtra's investments and businesses moving to Gujarat, then a government that takes care of the interests of the state would have been formed in Delhi and Maharashtra.
"It cannot happen that (you) support (the BJP during Lok Sabha polls), then oppose (during the state assembly polls) and again compromise. This cannot happen.
"First decide that whoever works against the interests of Maharashtra will not be welcomed at home, you will not go to their homes and break bread. Then talk about the interests of Maharashtra," Uddhav said.
Uddhav said he was ready to set aside minor disagreements.
"I am saying I don't have fights with anyone, and if any, I am resolving them. But decide on this (the interest of Maharashtra) first. But then all Marathi people should decide whether they will go with the BJP or with me," Uddhav added.
Notably, Uddhav's assertion comes at a time when Shiv Sena (UBT) has opposed the "imposition" of Hindi in Maharashtra after the state government gave its nod to the three-language formula under NEP.
Raj, nephew of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, resigned from his uncle's party in January 2006 and later formed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena by picking the son-of-the-soil agenda aggressively.
He had launched several pointed attacks on Uddhav Thackeray who he had blamed for his exit from Shiv Sena.
After winning 13 seats in the 2009 assembly elections, MNS gradually declined and was pushed to political margins in Maharashtra. The party currently has no representation in the legislative assembly due to eroding voter base.
In the recent assembly polls, the Shiv Sena (UBT) was reduced to 20 seats, while the Raj Thackeray-led party drew a blank with even Raj's son Amit losing his maiden poll contest.
The rapprochement buzz comes ahead of civic polls in Mumbai amid the realisation that Shiv Sena (UBT) will have to fight the Sena led by Shinde and BJP to protect its citadel of Mumbai.
Meanwhile, responding to the speculation that the warring cousins may bury their hatchets, state Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Saturday said if two families are coming together, there is no reason to object.
"When Raj Thackeray says that his issues with Uddhav Thackeray are not bigger than Maharashtra, he must be hitting that BJP is causing loss to Maharashtra. He must be hinting that investment is going out of Maharashtra. The other meaning of his statement is that BJP and Mahayuti are trying to cause harm to the basic foundation of the state," he told reporters in Pune.
Sapkal underlined Maharashtra's tradition of inclusive governance based on the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and B R Ambedkar.
"The BJP is trying to break the language and culture of Maharashtra, and Raj Thackeray's recent stand seems to endorse this view," he added.
Using the 'Bharat Jodo' analogy, he said, "If two families are coming together, there is no reason to object. If bonds are being formed, it should be welcomed".
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KFCC launches 'non-cooperation' campaign against singer Sonu Nigam over Kannada remark
Bengaluru, May 5 (PTI): The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) on Monday announced a 'non-cooperation' campaign against Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam over a controversial remark he made during a recent concert in Bengaluru.
The Narayana Gowda faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a demonstration in the city in protest against Nigam’s comment.
During a concert at a college here on April 25, when an audience member asked him to sing a Kannada song, Nigam reportedly responded, "Kannada. Kannada. This is the reason behind the incident in Pahalgam."
The terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 left 26 people dead, including two from Karnataka.
An FIR was registered against the singer at the Avalahalli police station on May 3 for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Kannadigas.
KFCC president M Narasimhulu told reporters that the non-cooperation campaign would continue until Nigam tenders an unconditional apology to the people of Karnataka.
"There will be non-cooperation with Nigam across Karnataka. It’s just like a ban. He should apologise to the people of Karnataka," he said.
When asked if he had tried to reach out to Nigam before taking this step, Narasimhulu said he had attempted to contact him, but received no response as the singer's phone was switched off.
Dharma Vish, general secretary of the Karnataka Film Musicians’ Association, said, "Nigam is one of the finest talents India and Kannada have seen. The controversy is not about his talent but about his comment, which deeply hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. Comparing people from a state to terrorists is extremely damaging."
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, Narayana Gowda faction of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike convener T A Narayana Gowda alleged that Nigam had "displayed madness" during the programme.
"He has sung hundreds of songs in Kannada films, so his fans merely requested a Kannada song. He could have sung it, declined, or remained silent. There was no pressure on him. Linking the request to the Pahalgam terror strike was completely uncalled for," he said.
Bengaluru Rural district Superintendent of Police C K Baba said the police will intensify the investigation.
He confirmed that a notice had already been issued to the singer, asking him to appear before the investigating officer next week.
"During the show, when some people in the audience requested Kannada songs, Nigam made an objectionable statement. So, we registered a case at the Avalahalli police station. The matter is under investigation, and considering the seriousness of the issue, the inspector is handling it. The case relates to hurting the sentiments of Kannadigas," Baba said.
He reiterated that a notice has been served, and once Nigam appears, the investigation will proceed to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.
Explaining further, Baba said a large crowd had gathered for the concert where Nigam performed.
"There was no correlation between the request for a Kannada song and the incident in Kashmir. Yet, he made a statement along those lines, which hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. Hence, we registered a case. We will soon summon him," Baba added.
He also confirmed that video evidence of the incident is available.
