MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray and party chief Uddhav Thackeray hit back at the Mahayuti over allegations in the Disha Salian death case on Thursday, with Aaditya saying there were continuous attempts to defame him and tarnish his reputation for the last five years and that he would respond to questions in court. Uddhav Thackeray said every time the legislature session begins, the Salian issue is brought up. Uddhav said Aaditya had “no connection” with the case at all, but if politics were to be taken in the wrong direction, everyone would be hurt. He also said that if BJP was “building things on lies, it would backfire on them.”
“How did this issue not come up in the last 2-3 sessions? I was surprised by this. Every time this issue is brought up, there is nothing new in it. Farmers’ pyres are burning; who is responsible for it? Farmers’ mothers and sisters are suffering. Many were killed, like in the (sarpanch) Santosh Deshmukh case. Their children are demanding justice. What is the govt’s position on this? Whatever Disha Salian’s lawyer says, he should tell it in court. Many generations of our family are before the public,” Uddhav said.
Aaditya said what was important was that UBT Sena and MVA had exposed the govt in the budget session of the state legislature. “I have been talking about real issues for the past five years; I will only talk about real issues… Not only us, the RSS has also exposed the govt. They have also said the Aurangzeb issue is not relevant. So will BJP netas now demand action against them?” he asked.
Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that Disha’s father was under pressure now to reopen the case. He said parents whose daughter has passed away do not remain silent for five years and added this was an attempt to defame the Thackeray family.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar also attacked the BJP, accusing it of politicising actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death for elections and claimed that the party would do politics over Disha Salian after her father sought a probe into her death.
Aaditya said if the ruling party wants to adjourn proceedings of the House on the Salian issue, they could do so. “BJP has not included any of the ten promises in its manifesto in the budget. We exposed them on Aurangzeb, on Hindutva. One minister even had to resign. After all this, why should the House be shut down? They are doing it in my name. Let the House be closed. But people are asking the question: you are an MLA from the ruling party. We have elected you to work. Talk about Maharashtra. Discuss real issues,” he said.
