Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray warned that after the formation of the MVA government, he would shut down the MMRDA if it was found to be against Mumbai’s interests. “I will direct the MMRDA to work outside the jurisdiction of Mumbai. If you obstruct the autonomy of the BMC, I may shut down the MMRDA.”

In a rousing speech to his supporters at a joint rally organized by the Maha Vikas Aghadi at the BKC ground on Sunday, Uddhav launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing them of looting Mumbai and diminishing the city’s importance. Thackeray, invoking the names of historical figures like Shivaji Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, Shashu Maharaj and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, promised that he would not allow Modi, Shah or any other business tycoon to take over Mumbai.

“Modi and Shah cannot separate Mumbai from Maharashtra, so they are trying to undermine the importance of the city,” he said. He asked Fadnavis to “abandon the slogan ‘Batenge to Katenge’ and warned: ‘If you attack or loot Mumbai, we will cut you off.’

Charge leveled by Shiv Sena-UBT chief against Mahayuti government

Thackeray accused the ruling Mahayuti government of distributing large tracts of land to private builders. He promised that if his alliance came to power, one of their first acts would be to cancel government resolutions (GR) related to such projects. “We will abandon such a redevelopment plan in the first cabinet meeting,” he said.

Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on MMRDA

Besides, he threatened to dismantle the Mumbal Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) if it hampered the city’s progress. In his speech, Thackeray expressed his strong opposition to the BJP’s economic plans for Mumbai, alleging that the Union government’s plan for the city involves handing over its prime land to private builders. “We won Mumbai with our blood and sweat,” he said.

Shiv Sena-UBT chief on large number of hoarding in Mumbai and state

Targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the BJP over the large number of hoardings in Mumbai and the state, Thackeray sarcastically remarked, “After seeing these hoardings, you can guess how much money has been looted from the coffers of Maharashtra. Even Shinde has put up more hoardings than the BJP.

Speaking on the issue of businesses moving to Gujarat, Thackeray clarified, “I have no personal problem with Gujaratis, but Modi and Shah are creating divisions between them and other states, which will take a long time to undo. Gujaratis should tell Modi to stop looting Mumbai.

Thackeray also referred to recent comments by BJP leader Pankaja Munde who claimed that 90,000 polling booth observers had been brought to Mumbai from Gujarat to monitor the election booths. Thackeray questioned the need for such a large number of observers and urged the Election Commission to investigate who was funding them. The Shiv Sena leader further claimed that under Modi’s leadership, Mumbai had become a haven for “the corrupt, thugs and traitors”.