Uddhav likens NDA to amoeba, says it has no definite shape and size; also calls it 'arrogant'
Hingoli, Aug 27: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday likened the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to an amoeba, saying that the BJP-led front does not have any definite shape and size.
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for calling the opposition INDIA alliance as "ghamandia" (marked by arrogance) and "Indian Mujahideen", Thackeray said the NDA should be called "ghama-NDA" ("ghamandiye" meaning arrogant).
Addressing a rally at Hingoli in Maharashtra, he also asked Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao to clarify whether he supports the INDIA alliance or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"The INDIA alliance comprises nationalist parties that want to protect democracy in the country. But most parties in the NDA comprise traitors and those who have joined the BJP as allies by breaking other parties," Thackeray said.
"The present NDA is like an amoeba, which has no definite shape and size...The INDIA alliance will defeat the BJP," he said.
The former chief minister asked BRS chief Rao to decide whether he was fighting for the country or supporting the BJP.
"If you are with the country, then join the INDIA alliance or declare your alliance with the BJP openly. Don't divide votes," Thackeray said referring to the BRS trying to enter electoral politics in Maharashtra.
The BRS should first focus on its own backyard, which is not in good shape, the Sena (UBT) president said.
Thackeray appealed to people to join the INDIA alliance for protecting democracy and the Constitution.
"The opposition bloc hasn't united against PM Modi, but for the sake of the country," he said.
The INDIA alliance meeting will be held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1. Thackeray is scheduled to host dinner for the leaders on August 31.
Thackeray also criticised the BJP government for allowing a cricket match between India and Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup in Ahmedabad.
Targeting the BJP, Thackeray said his former ally is a party of "Aaya Ram Gaya Ram" (leaders switching sides).
"I pity the BJP cadre who worked tirelessly to bring the party to power. It was being said this was a double-engine government and now a third engine of Ajit Pawar has been added. I wonder how many more engines will be added. Is this a goods train?" he alleged.
"After NCP leader Hassan Mushrif joined the state government, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seems to have forgotten the road to his house," he said, referring to the central agency's probe against the minister.
Mushrif and eight other Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the Maharashtra government last month with Ajit Pawar taking oath as the deputy chief minister, thereby creating a split in the party founded by the latter's uncle Sharad Pawar.
Thackeray ridiculed the "Shasan Aplya Dari" (government at your doorstep) programme of the Eknath Shinde-led state government, saying that it was nothing but lies.
The programme is aimed at taking the government schemes to the doorstep of the common people.
"Farmers are yet to get compensation for the crop losses incurred due to unseasonal rains and now they are facing drought. A bureaucrat who conducted a survey on the status of farmers in Marathwada and gave a report that the government should provide cash compensation of Rs 25,000 each was forced to take voluntary retirement," he said.
Thackeray said when the state was reeling under drought-like conditions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went to Japan.
"It is good if he gets investment from Japan, but what about the projects that were to come to Maharashtra but taken to Gujarat instead. Will he bring them back?" Thackeray asked.
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Police raid BRS leader Rama Rao’s kin's farmhouse, party says CM's trap
Hyderabad, Oct 27: Police here raided a farmhouse allegedly owned by BRS working president K T Rama Rao’s brother-in-law and booked one person, who tested positive for cocaine at the party organised there.
A police official said Rao's brother-in-law, Raj Pakala, was absconding following the raid at his farmhouse.
The incident triggered a political row in Telangana with leaders of the ruling Congress demanding a thorough investigation over the matter.
BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday alleged that the Congress government in Telangana is just "pretending" to enforce the law but is actually "protecting the BRS bigwigs".
However, the BRS alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was trying to trap Rama Rao, also known as KTR, in a false case. The party claimed showcasing the residence as a farmhouse reeks of malicious intent.
KTR's brother-in-law Raj Pakala organised the party in his new house for his family members, the BRS said and accused the police and Excise officials of carrying out searches at the house without any warrant and harassing his family members showing them as "participants" of the party.
"Because KTR is exposing Congress government's failures and corruption, the BJP and Congress parties are conspiring against him…Revanth Reddy, Congress and BJP leaders are suffering from KTR syndrome, KTR phobia," the BRS said.
As Revanth Reddy "failed" to deliver on the poll promises he indulged in diversion politics, the BRS further said and alleged that the Telangana chief minister is making personal allegations against KTR out of "jealousy”.
Alleging that there was a match-fixing between Revanth Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the BRS accused the former of making the latter and other BJP leaders speak against KTR.
The BRS party said it will face the issue legally.
The BRS also denied the allegations that drugs and excessive foreign liquor was found at the house.
In response to the police raid, BRS leader Sravan Dasoju in a release termed it propaganda, labeling a private family gathering as a "rave party" and condemned the "unfounded accusations and politically motivated actions".
"On top of this, attempting to associate KTR with the gathering is nothing but a desperate move to tarnish his image through cheap political theatrics," Sravan said.
Meanwhile, some BRS leaders were taken into preventive custody in Raidurgam here after they protested alleging the police was entering the houses of its leaders "without search warrants".
According to police, following input that a party was going on at the farmhouse in Janwada, with "drugs and liquor unauthorisedly", a team of Cyberabad Police and Excise officials raided the place on the intervening night of October 26 and 27 and found 21 men and 14 women participants.
All the male participants were subjected to drug tests and one person in the gathering tested positive for cocaine and a case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act was registered, a senior police official told PTI.
During the raid, police found foreign liquor beyond the permitted quantity and that no permission was taken for the event.
Pakala hosted the event and since he did not obtain an Excise license, a case was registered against him under relevant sections of the Excise Act by the Excise Task Force besides another case was booked against him under the Telangana Gaming Act, police said.
An Excise official told the media that the party was organised without event permission and foreign liquor was also found.
Seven foreign and 10 Indian liquor bottles were found besides other gaming related items, police said, adding further investigation was on.
BJP leader Sanjay Kumar in a post on 'X' said "The raid at Janwada farmhouse is merely tip of the iceberg. Congress govt should not dilute the case - by giving a predictable statements. It’s becoming obvious that Congress and BRS are playing a “give and take” game, protecting each other’s interests."
