A war of words has erupted between Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and BJP leader from Tamil Nadu K. Annamalai over the latter's remarks about Mumbai city.
The dispute began when Annamalai, while campaigning for the BJP in the Dharavi and Sion Koliwada areas for the upcoming BMC elections, stated that Mumbai is not just a Maharashtra city.
"Bombay is not a Maharashtra city, but an international city," he said, emphasising the need for a "triple-engine government" to govern Mumbai effectively.
“We need a BJP mayor in Mumbai, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre. Mumbai is a global metropolis with a budget of over Rs 40,000 crore, while Bengaluru’s budget is Rs 19,000 crore and Chennai’s is Rs 8,000 crore. The city needs capable people in administration to manage such finances," Annamalai had said.
However, his comments did not go down well with MNS, with party chief Raj Thackeray questioning Annamalai’s authority to comment on Mumbai’s affairs.
“A rasmalai has come from Tamil Nadu. What’s your connection to this place? Hatao lungi bajao pungi,” Thackeray said, referencing slogans from the Shiv Sena's campaigns in the 1960s and 1970s.
Raj’s remark drew a sharp reaction from Annamalai, who on Monday labelled those criticising his comments as "ignorant."
"If I say Kamaraj was one of India's greatest leaders, does that mean he is no longer a Tamil? Similarly, if I say Mumbai is a world-class city, does it mean Maharashtrians didn’t contribute to its development? These people are just ignorant,” he responded.
Annamalai also launched a scathing attack on Raj and Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray, accusing them of holding meetings merely to insult him.
"Who are Aditya Thackeray and Raj Thackeray to threaten me? I’m proud to be the son of a farmer. They've held meetings just to abuse me. I don't know if I’ve become that important," the BJP leader said during a press conference in Chennai.
He further claimed that he had been receiving multiple threats since his remark. "Some have written that they will cut my legs if I come to Mumbai. But I will come to Mumbai—let them try. If I were afraid of such threats, I would have stayed in my village," he asserted.
