Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray blasted Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for failing to mention Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray's name during his mammoth rally in the city in December.
Addressing a convention of senior citizens at Lalbaug, Raj criticised Modi for the second time in recent times. "Modi did not once mention Balasaheb's name despite the BJP being in alliance with the Sena for years," said Raj.
"Modi says Mumbai is like a native place for Gujaratis, so what does that make Mumbai for Maharashtrians? He is just unnecessarily raking up the ghosts of the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement," he said.
The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, which led to the formation of Maharashtra state in the 1960s, had seen Maharashtrians fighting a pitched battle against the Gujaratis for the inclusion of Mumbai in Maharashtra.
Raj, who shared a good rapport with Modi, had last month asked him to resign after being declared the Prime Ministerial candidate by the NDA. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar refused to comment on the statement. "We do not wish to make Raj big," Shelar said.