The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece, Saamana, on Tuesday published a scathing editorial targeting the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra as well as Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai over his recent remarks on Mumbai city.
The newspaper accused the Devendra Fadnavis-led government of tarnishing Maharashtra’s image through corrupt practices and of “crushing the Marathi language, culture, and identity.”
"They are engaging in corrupt politics by crushing the Marathi language, Marathi culture, and Marathi identity. Any Tom, Dick, or Harry comes to Mumbai, insults the pride of Maharashtra, and leaves, and the Marathi rulers support him. This is a terrible situation," it said, referring to Annamalai’s comments during a campaign speech in Mumbai.
“A beggar from Tamil Nadu, BJP leader Annamalai, came to Mumbai as a star campaigner for the BJP and blabbered, ‘Mumbai has nothing to do with Maharashtra. What connection does Mumbai have with Maharashtra?’” the editorial said.
The paper also lambasted the BJP leaders who were present on the stage when Annamalai made the statements on Mumbai. "When this anti-Maharashtra Rasmalai of the BJP was giving his speech, several Marathi leaders of Mumbai BJP were present on the stage, and they were not bothered by Rasmalai's venomous words," it said.
The Sena mouthpiece’s editorial came a day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray lashed out at Annamalai’s remarks and questioned his authority to comment on Mumbai’s affairs.
What Annamalai said
The controversy erupted after 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 said.
How Raj Thackeray hit back
The BJP leader's comments did not go down well with the MNS, with party chief Raj Thackeray questioning his 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.
