Maharashtra CM challenges BJP to try and topple his government

Mumbai: During a Dussehra rally speech, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray challenged the BJP to "try and topple" his government. He was throwing shade at the ruling union government for focusing on the Mumbai drugs-on-cruise case and not on the 3000 kg of heroin seized from Mundra Port in Gujarat.

He questioned why the BJP is interested in catching celebrities and getting pictures clicked referring to the arrest of Aryan Khan despite having no drugs in his possession. Thackeray stated that drugs seizures are not happening only in Maharashtra. "While your agencies (NCB) recovering pinch of ganja, our police recovered drugs worth ₹ 150 crores," reported NDTV.

The Maharashtra CM alleged that the state and the Shive Sena are being targeted because the party broke off its ties with the BJP. He challenged the BJP to topple his government without using the Enforcement Directorate.

He also praised Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress and said "Sena workers and people of Maharashtra should emulate the example of Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal which stood up to the BJP."

He also slammed the BJP for calling the Mumbai Police a mafia and asked "what will you call the UP Police then?"

Thackeray also responded to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent statement "ancestors of all Indians were same" and asked: "Did the ancestors of opposition parties and farmers come from a different planet?"

"Struggle for power is not good. Addiction to power is like drug addiction. Hunger for power destroys families of others," he added.