In Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday attacked the BJP-led Center and the ruling Mahayuti in Maharashtra, terming the dispensations as “runaway governments”, in reference to alleged irregularities in the NEET and water seepage in Ayodhya Ram temple.
Addressing a press conference here, he also termed the monsoon session of the state legislature, which began on Thursday, as the “farewell” session of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government. He demanded that farm loans be waived ahead of the assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.
Earlier in the day, legislators belonging to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP (SP), raised slogans against the government over the NEET exam on the premises of the legislative complex.
Thackeray fueled the row over NEET and the recent statement by Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, on the water leak at the Ayodhya shrine, directed at the Center and state governments.
“The Center and the state are leaky governments because (NEET) exams were leaked and there are leaks in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple. They have no shame,” he stated.
The former chief minister also demanded that farm loans be suspended ahead of the assembly elections.
"There should be a complete farm loan waiver immediately and this should be implemented before the state elections," Thackeray said.
Thackeray said 6,250 farmers have died in the state in the last two years. Since January 1 alone, 1,046 farmers have committed suicide, he claimed.
He also said that a relief of Rs 10.02 billion announced for farmers is yet to be released.
Thackeray accused the BJP-led Center of being insensitive to the water issues in the country.
Ahead of the state budget, which will be presented on Friday, Thackeray said there will be a "shower of assurances" in the budget, but the government should also present a white paper on the promises it has kept in the last two years.
On reports that the state will launch a scheme for women similar to Madhya Pradesh's 'Ladli Behna' programme, Thackeray said a similar initiative should be launched for men in view of rising unemployment in the state.
He also backed his party's legislative council member Anil Parab's demand to reserve 50 per cent of housing units in new residential projects in Mumbai for Marathi speakers. Parab had claimed that their numbers were dwindling in the metropolis.
On his chance meeting with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in a lift of the state legislature building that was attracting a lot of attention on social media, he termed it a “mere coincidence”. It was an “informal meeting,” he said.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, the Sena (UBT) and its partners Congress and NCP (SP) put up a good show by winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state. This has led to speculations about new political alignments ahead of the assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference here, he also termed the monsoon session of the state legislature, which began on Thursday, as the “farewell” session of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led government. He demanded that farm loans be waived ahead of the assembly elections, scheduled for later this year.
Earlier in the day, legislators belonging to the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Sena (UBT), the Congress and the NCP (SP), raised slogans against the government over the NEET exam on the premises of the legislative complex.
Thackeray fueled the row over NEET and the recent statement by Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, on the water leak at the Ayodhya shrine, directed at the Center and state governments.
“The Center and the state are leaky governments because (NEET) exams were leaked and there are leaks in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple. They have no shame,” he stated.
The former chief minister also demanded that farm loans be suspended ahead of the assembly elections.
"There should be a complete farm loan waiver immediately and this should be implemented before the state elections," Thackeray said.
Thackeray said 6,250 farmers have died in the state in the last two years. Since January 1 alone, 1,046 farmers have committed suicide, he claimed.
He also said that a relief of Rs 10.02 billion announced for farmers is yet to be released.
Thackeray accused the BJP-led Center of being insensitive to the water issues in the country.
Ahead of the state budget, which will be presented on Friday, Thackeray said there will be a "shower of assurances" in the budget, but the government should also present a white paper on the promises it has kept in the last two years.
On reports that the state will launch a scheme for women similar to Madhya Pradesh's 'Ladli Behna' programme, Thackeray said a similar initiative should be launched for men in view of rising unemployment in the state.
He also backed his party's legislative council member Anil Parab's demand to reserve 50 per cent of housing units in new residential projects in Mumbai for Marathi speakers. Parab had claimed that their numbers were dwindling in the metropolis.
On his chance meeting with Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in a lift of the state legislature building that was attracting a lot of attention on social media, he termed it a “mere coincidence”. It was an “informal meeting,” he said.
In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, the Sena (UBT) and its partners Congress and NCP (SP) put up a good show by winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state. This has led to speculations about new political alignments ahead of the assembly elections.