'Political bombs don't need Diwali': Maha CM takes potshots at BJP-led government and Devendra Fadnavis

Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis. File pic

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the country has been waiting for some people [BJP-led government] to explode bombs in Pakistan, instead of bombing the political opponents.

He was referring to Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis's response to senior minister Nawab Malik's allegations of the former CM protecting the drug business. Fadnavis has vowed to drop a bomb after Diwali to establish Malik's link with the underworld.

"Some people are saying that they will explode a bomb after Diwali, but political bombs don't need Diwali. The country is waiting (for them) to explode bombs in Pakistan," he said during a media interaction at his official residence Varsha on Monday. He refused to comment further on the Malik-Fadnavis faceoff over the drugs-on-cruise case.

‘If it happened as decided'

Thackeray said he would have continued with his passion for photography if things had happened as decided (the BJP gave Shiv Sena the CM's post). "I regret that I cannot pursue my hobby. I would have continued as a photographer and invited you for my exhibition if things had happened as decided," said the CM, who will complete two years in office later this month.

He said he would start working regularly from Mantralaya very soon. "I'm cleansing the dirt the people who went to Mantralaya have created. Earlier, the CMO had a war room. I thought I had none to engage in a war. So, I set up Sankalp Kaksha (resolution room). The pandemic may have slowed us down, but we're gaining momentum," he said.

Aaditya's mann ki baat

When asked about his minister son Aaditya Thackeray's wedding plans, the CM said, "I will first have to understand Aaditya's
mann ki baat."

Aaditya, who joined the interaction later, quipped with a coy smile, "I stayed inside because I heard the question you asked my father."