Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit exemplified the "Mussolini" rule in Maharashtra that prevented Shiv Sena workers from exercising their democratic right of protest, the saffron party's leader Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday.
Referring to the tight security blanket thrown for Rahul Gandhi's four-hour trip, Thackeray said Shiv Sainiks all over the city were prevented from their democratic right of protesting by waving black flags.
"This shows what kind of a 'Mussolini' raj is prevalent in Maharashtra," Thackeray said, referring to the Italian dictator and Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi's Italian origins.
He described Chief Minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress as "a watchman" for waiting nearly an hour-and-a-half under a tree in Ghatkopar to receive Rahul Gandhi. In an unexpected change of plan, the Congress general secretary decided to take local trains instead of the helicopter to commute about the city.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi withdrawing cash from a bank ATM near Andheri railway station to buy a second class suburban train ticket, Uddhav Thackeray said it was expected.
"Mumbai means Delhi's ATM," Uddhav said, implying that the city was allegedly being exploited by the rulers in Delhi for its wealth.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Rahul Navrekar called Rahul’s visit to Mumbai and the security arrangement for it a “mockery of democracy”.
“I think Rahul Gandhi has made a mockery of the democracy in this country. The paramilitary, the entire police force and the entire administration--the Chief Minister waited for him for an hour.”
“You have CCTV coverage of the entire event. This itself shows what it takes for Rahul Gandhi to move around in Mumbai. This is a very successful protest by the Shiv Sena. Rahul Gandhi’s trip was a stage-managed and orchestrated,” said Navrekar.
(With IANS and CNN-IBN Correspondents)
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