Uddhav Thackeray slams Centre’s power scheme, takes digs at NCP, Congress

Thackeray mocked the recently-launched ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ that promises power connections to over 40 million families in rural and urban areas by December 2018.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray once again launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. Addressing a rally in Nanded for the upcoming Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation elections, Thackeray mocked the recently-launched ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ that promises power connections to over 40 million families in rural and urban areas by December 2018.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray (HT File)

“They come up with new schemes like Saubhagya Yojana, which promises free power connection to all. Forget the electrification programme, first provide electricity to existing households. There is load-shedding in Maharashtra,” Thackeray said. He also took a dig at the PM over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) development agenda. “Along with Vikas (development), Prakash (light) is also missing,” he said.

He taunted Nationalist Congress Party chief, Sharad Pawar, over his party’s “invisible” support to the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. “The invisible hand that supports you (BJP), could be of Sharad Pawar and of Congress. You (NCP) are supporting (the government) from behind the curtain. You only pretend to oppose the government, but we openly oppose the government,” said Thackeray.

Attacking former chief minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan over the Adarsh Housing Society scam, Thackeray asked the people why they tolerated such an ‘Adarsh’ (principled) leader for so long.

Thackeray also criticised the Maharashtra government over the delay in the implementation of the farm loan waiver. Thackeray said that since there has been a tremendous delay, “loans should be waived up to June 2017 now.”