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In Last 5 Years, Never Conspired to Pull Down Government: Uddhav

Thackeray said that for the alliance to stay intact, both the BJP and Shiv Sena need to exercise caution.

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Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, 8 October, said that despite his party being in the Maharashtra government for last five years without much power, he never betrayed or conspired to pull it down.

"Did I betray the government or conspire to pull it down? No. We were in government without any power for last five years. There were differences, and we raised our voice wherever we felt things were wrong," he said.

Thackeray said that for the alliance to stay intact, both the BJP and Shiv Sena need to exercise caution.

“We need to control our mind. If you accelerate speed unnecessarily, we can meet with an accident. This has happened earlier,” he said, in an apparent reference to the breaking of the Sena-BJP alliance ahead of the 2014 state polls.
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Thackeray said his party forged an alliance with the BJP in the interest of Maharashtra.

"I compromised for the sake of the state. I am confident we can provide good administration and governance in next five years based on the previous experience," he said.

"What was Devendra Fadnavis' experience when he first became the chief minister. Some of the Shiv Sena ministers were in that position earlier," he noted.

‘Not Against Metro Car Shed’: Uddhav on Aarey Tree-Cutting

In the second part of his interview to Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', Thackeray also spoke about his party's objection to tree felling in Aarey Colony in Mumbai, saying that they are not against the Metro car shed, but the place where it is proposed.

“Development shouldn’t happen at the cost of hardships to others. The proposed car shed in Aarey is opposed by Mumbaikars, not Shiv Sena.”
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray

"It is not my party's personal issue. We need the Metro and development of the city. But while doing that, we shouldn't lose something more valuable," he added.

Thackeray said Mumbai is the only city in the world to have a natural forest cover and wildlife.

"The murderers of Aarey trees will have to pay a price for axing trees in the middle of the night. (Sena corporator) Yashwant Jadhav, the petitioner, was fined Rs 50,000 (by court) while dismissing his plea. But murderers of Aarey trees will be responsible for damage to the environment," he said.

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The Sena chief said he was thankful to the Supreme Court, which restrained the authorities from cutting anymore trees in the Aarey Colony, for "taking a different stand".

He also expressed confidence that the BJP-Sena alliance will provide a much better administration and governance, if it wins again in the upcoming state polls.

Asked about the Sena's protest over crop insurance, Thackeray said he takes a stand on issues concerning people.

"When the government publicises its achievements, the work done is seen on the ground. I will continue to highlight people's issues before the government," he said.

Uddhav on Nanar Refinery Project

On the Sena's opposition to the Nanar refinery project, Thackeray said his party supported the local people.

"The Sena's stand to oppose the project was not for my personal gain or the party's political interest," he said.

Even in the case of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Corridor project, the locals opposed it, he said, adding that he went there and saw "fertile land being declared as barren" by government officials.

“This is not an anti-government stand. We spoke to the people opposing the project. We got the route changed by saving the farms,” he pointed out.

Justifying criticism of the Congress and NCP and their leadership by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his campaigns, Thackeray said if the opposition targets the Shiv Sena and BJP, "then we have to highlight their tenure".

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‘Nobody Is Targeting Clean Leaders’: Uddhav

On claims that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was being misused to target political opponents, Thackeray asked, "Who are these political opponents? Are they clean?" "Nobody is targeting clean leaders. Will you agree that all those on the ED's radar are clean?" he said.

Noting that the Sena played the role of opposition many times, he said, "I am against misuse of power and politics of revenge. Don't know about the ED. But misuse of CBI is not new. You reap what you sow."

To a question on speculations that he was also facing pressure of the ED, Thackeray said, “What is the fear if you haven’t done anything wrong. I am a fighter’s son. I am not scared. Don’t experiment on me.”

On the upcoming Assembly polls, he said the Sena has to be prepared in all the 288 seats of Maharashtra. “Preparation doesn't mean contesting elections, or winning or losing. I want the Shiv Sena's ideology to reach in each and every ward," he said.

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