Uddhav Thackeray: 'Why NDA needs 36 parties when it has 3 powerful parties — ED, CBI and IT'

News Network
July 26, 2023

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Mumbai, July 26: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has accused the Narendra Modi-led Centre of misusing central agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax (IT) for political gains and described them as the real strength of the NDA.

“Last week, we came to know that an 'amoeba' named ‘NDA’ is alive. People who love the country formed I.N.D.I.A. The 36 NDA parties were hosted (in New Delhi) but they really do not need 36 parties. The NDA has three strong parties now: ED, CBI and IT. Where are the other parties?” Thackeray said in a two-part interview.

The interview was taken by journalist-politician Sanjay Raut, the Executive Editor of Saamana, the party mouthpiece. 

The interview is available on Shiv Sena (UBT) YouTube channel and appeared in Saamana, the party’s Marathi mouthpiece and Dophar ka Saamana, the Hindi tabloid version.

In the interview, on the eve of his 63rd birthday, Thackeray spoke on a wide range of issues including the Manipur situation, the toppling of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the rebellion of Eknath Shinde, who is now Maharashtra Chief Minister and controls the Shiv Sena name and symbol, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction joining NDA and Devendra Fadnavis’ charge that Shiv Sena stabbed at the back of BJP.

Thackeray equated Shinde with ‘kekda’ (crab) when asked about the toppling of the MVA. “The crab in the dam ensured that it burst,” he said, adding that over the last one year, he had received tremendous support from the people.

“My identity is that I am the son of (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray. It's the people who have given me the confidence that I can take the legacy of Balasaheb ahead,” said Thackeray. 

On Fadnavis, he said: “You say I stabbed at BJP so why was NCP broken (in July 2023). You had already formed the government by breaking Shiv Sena (in June 2022).”

To a question that the Central government does not seem to be keen on elections, he said: “Correct. That’s why I say that 2024 is very important for the history of the country. If this government comes again. I have doubts whether democracy would be alive and elections would be held again.”

On being asked if he still has faith in the Constitution, he said: “Why should we not have faith in the Constitution? The issue is those who follow (it) and those who do not follow (it).” 

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News Network
October 27,2024

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav stated on Sunday, October 27, that his party is prepared to contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections independently if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) does not include them in the alliance. 

Yadav assured that the SP would only contest in constituencies where it has a strong organizational presence and would ensure its participation does not affect the MVA’s overall prospects.

Several I.N.D.I.A. alliance members have expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress over seat-sharing arrangements in upcoming state polls. 

Both the CPI(ML)L and the RJD voiced frustration after being offered only 3-4 seats each for the Jharkhand elections by the Congress.

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News Network
October 25,2024

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A recent survey has exposed a troubling rise in anti-Muslim racism across Europe, fueled by heightened conflicts in West Asia and Europe’s increasingly hostile climate for Muslims. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed on Thursday that nearly half of European Muslims faced discrimination in the past five years, with the situation worsening notably over the last year as violence flared in Gaza.

Nicole Romain, a spokeswoman for FRA, confirmed reports of intensified anti-Muslim hate across several EU countries. "Even before the current escalation, it was already becoming increasingly challenging to live as a Muslim in the EU," she said, pointing to dehumanizing rhetoric and profiling practices that target Muslims based on religion, ethnicity, and even physical appearance.

The survey, conducted prior to Israel’s large-scale assault on Gaza, included data from over 9,600 Muslims across more than a dozen EU nations between October 2021 and October 2022. The results highlighted Austria as having the highest rate of discrimination against Muslims at 71 percent, followed closely by Germany (68 percent) and Finland (63 percent). France, home to Europe’s second-largest Muslim population, reported a rate of 39 percent.

Women and children are disproportionately affected, particularly those wearing religious attire such as the hijab. FRA's report sheds light on the pervasive racial profiling Muslims face, from random police checks to discrimination in employment despite high qualifications. Director Sirpa Rautio warned that as conflicts continue to escalate, the impact on Muslims in Europe is likely to worsen, compounding challenges for the EU’s 26 million-strong Muslim population, which makes up more than 5 percent of the bloc's residents.

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News Network
October 21,2024

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Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Monday warned passengers not to fly on Air India flights from November 1 to 19. He asserted that an attack could take place on an Air India flight during the specified dates, which coincide with the "40th anniversary of the Sikh genocide".

The founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), who holds dual citizenship in Canada and the US, had issued a similar threat around the same time last year.

Pannun's fresh threat comes amid several airlines in India receiving multiple threat calls about potential bombings, all of which turned out to be hoaxes. It also occurred at a time when India and Canada are engaged in a murky diplomatic row following Canada's allegations of India targeting Khalistani elements in the country, including the murder of another terrorist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

In November 2023, Pannun released a video claiming that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport would be renamed and would remain closed on November 19, warning people against flying on Air India that day. The National Investigation Agency charged him with criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, and various offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

In December last year, Pannun threatened to attack the Parliament on or before December 13, following reports of an alleged foiled plot to kill him. December 13 marks the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Parliament in 2001.

He also threatened to kill Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of State Police Gaurav Yadav on Republic Day this year. He also urged gangsters to unite and launch an attack on Mann on January 26.

Pannun has been designated a terrorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs since July 2020 on charges of sedition and secessionism, as he leads SFJ, a group advocating for a separate sovereign Sikh state. A year prior to this, India banned SFJ as an "unlawful association" for engaging in "anti-national and subversive" activities.

In another development, on October 17, the United States charged a former officer of India's spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for allegedly directing a foiled plot to murder Pannun, a charge New Delhi has rejected as baseless allegations.

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