Nagpur, Dec 15 (UNI) Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the new citizenship law is against the views of freedom fighter and national icon Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
Addressing a press conference on the eve of Winter session of the state legislature, Mr Thackeray alleged that issues like CAA were being raised to divert the attention of people from real issues like the security of women, unemployment and farmer crisis.
Referring to the Savarkar issue, Mr Thackeray wondered whether the CAB was based on any ideology. What about violence which erupted over it?, he asked further.
'Our views for Savarkar have always been what they were earlier and will remain the same, even in future. But those who have brought this new Citizenship Amendment Act, are totally against Savarkar's principles,' he added.
The Chief Minister reiterated that as a freedom fighter, Savarkar had suggested that the country would remain united from the Indus river to Kanyakumari.
'If you believe in Savarkar, so when you have been in power for the last five years, what have you done to unite the country?,' Mr Thackeray asked.
'You are bringing the oppressed minorities from other countries to India and making them insecure. Is this not a riot with Savarkar's ideology? Why not dare to give strong warning to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who persecute the victim minorities, rather than bringing victims from other countries to India?,' he quipped.
When asked about the farmers' debt issue, the Chief Minister said, 'Our Cabinet is committed to all. Our government is not binding with the Opposition. Farmers will not only be debt-free, but also worry-free.'
The Chief Minister made it clear that the government was taking steps in this direction. Asked about stopping the development work in the state, Mr Thackeray denied all the allegations against his government and said that they have not stopped any development work.
The Winter session for the state is being held in Nagpur from Monday and will conclude on December 21.
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