Raj Thackeray attacks BJP over 'insensitive' remarks on Mumbai deaths

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP leadership and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing the party of becoming "arrogant with power" and alleging that the chief minister was shielding colleagues who made insensitive remarks following two rain-related deaths in Mumbai.In a post on X addressed to Fadnavis, Thackeray questioned whether the BJP's alleged "arrogance" at the national level had spread to Maharashtra under his leadership."People in the BJP's central leadership have grown arrogant with power... But has this contagion now spread to our state? And are you letting it spread?" Thackeray wrote.He also claimed Maharashtra's political culture, once admired across the country, had deteriorated in recent years."There was once a world of difference between politics in other states and politics in Maharashtra... But over the last few years, it's become painfully clear that you've started measuring up to some of those backward-thinking states up north!" he said.Targets Fadnavis over BJP leaders' conductThackeray criticised Fadnavis for not taking action against BJP leaders, including an MLA, who he alleged had "laughed gleefully over people's deaths.""One of your MLAs and office-bearers laughs gleefully over people's deaths, and not a single step is taken against him," he said, adding that the chief minister's silence had emboldened party leaders to make "utterly absurd statements" without fear of consequences.Quoting the phrase, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely," Thackeray said the current BJP leadership had become an example of that principle.Drawing on his 37 years in politics, he contrasted the current situation with the leadership styles of Bal Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and the late Pramod Mahajan."Whenever a leader in Maharashtra slipped up or made a mistake, the state's leaders at the time never covered for him just because he was one of their own," he said.Thackeray urged Fadnavis to seek resignations from leaders behaving "so shamelessly," warning that failing to act could damage both the chief minister's image and Maharashtra's political traditions."Devendra Fadnavis will be remembered merely as the brother who covers for his kin's mistakes... You should be demanding resignations from those behaving so shamelessly," he said, before concluding, "You are wise. We have expectations from you."Row follows Mumbai rain-related deathsThe controversy erupted after a purported viral video allegedly showed Mumbai BJP president and MLA Ameet Satam smiling while referring to two recent monsoon-related deaths in the city.The political row follows two fatal incidents during heavy rainfall in Mumbai.On Thursday, an 11-year-old boy died after a large tree uprooted by strong winds fell onto a school bus in Chembur.In a separate incident the same day, 60-year-old Aslam Isak Shaikh died after falling into an open, unguarded manhole in Sakinaka during heavy rain. Police have registered a case against a contractor and workers involved in drainage repair, while the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has suspended four officials, including the assistant commissioner of L Ward, over the incident.Sanjay Raut also demands actionEarlier on Friday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also demanded Satam's removal, blaming "negligence and corruption" for the two deaths."For BJP Mumbai President Ameet Satam to laugh at such tragic incidents is utterly inhumane and insensitive. If chief minister Devendra Fadnavis retains even a shred of empathy, he must immediately remove Ameet Satam from his post," Raut said.He further alleged civic failures, including inadequate drain cleaning and failure to address complaints about dangerous trees, had contributed to the fatalities, adding that the BJP should focus on improving civic infrastructure instead of "raising the issue of Bangladeshis."Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.