BMC polls: Sena's last ditch effort

MUMBAI MATINEE: Thackeray says there is a conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.

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Mumbai: Mumbai is all set to vote in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls on February 1 and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray held the last decisive political rally before the crucial elections in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park on Sunday evening.

The BJP-Shiv Sena combine is in control of the municipal corporations of Mumbai and Thane. It’s performance in the civic body has been under the public and media scrutiny ever since the July floods in Mumbai.

Thackeray who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, made an emotional appeal to the Marathis saying there was a conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and it would not be “tolerated”.

"The city will burn if it is taken away from Maharashtra," Thackeray said.

"Let them even try to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and we will give them a fitting reply. One hundred and five martyrs, mostly mill workers, had sacrificed their lives for the cause of Maharashtra with Mumbai and we will not let it go to waste," he added.

Narendra Modi was also invited to address the rally to ensure the support of not just the Gujarati voters but also the hardcore Hindutva supporters.

In his 20-minute speech, Thackeray paused several times and delivered the speech sitting. Dressed in an all-white robe, he was accompanied by his son and Sena Executive President Uddhav.

Asking Hindus to break linguistic barriers and unite, Thackeray said his dream was to feel a "Hindustan of Hindus" that would bring "Islam in this country down to its knees".

"It is my dream that we would create a Hindustan of the Hindus. Maharashtrians or Punjabis alone cannot fight against Islam. That is why, I appeal to all Hindus to break the linguistic wall around them and come together so that we can bring Islam in this country down to its knees."

(With agency inputs)