Exclusive: Raj Thackeray on why doesn't he want to see Modi as PM again

Coming out all guns blazing, Thackeray said that the country has never witnessed top CBI officers clashing in such a manner and RBI governors quitting under government pressure.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray in conversation with senior journalist Dibang.

New Delhi: Raj Thackeray launched a no-holds-barred attack on PM Narendra Modi over not being able to fulfill promises made to the country post 2014.  The Maharashtra Navanirman Sena is not contesting the current Lok Sabha elections but Thackeray is vigorously conducting rallies and giving out interviews targeting the Narendra Modi-led government. Speaking exclusively to ABP News, Thackeray lashed out at the BJP-led government for alleging that he is working under the directions of senior Maharashtra leader and NCP president Sharad Pawar. “They (BJP) don't have answers to any question I pose and that's the reason they allege I am reading Sharad Pawar's script,” he said. On why does he hold contrarian views about Narendra Modi when he staunchly endorsed him as PM in 2014, Thackeray said, “My view about Narendra Modi has changed because his personality completely changed after becoming PM. Modi has nothing to say about promises he made in 2014.” Casting aspersion on Modi government’s development schemes, the 50-year-old questioned why the prime minister is not uttering a word in his rallies about Make in India, Startup, Namami Gange and Swachh Bharat. “There’s no progress on these schemes because of which Modi and Shah have chosen to remain mum.”

Why #RafaleDeal was transferred to Anil Ambani from #HAL, asks Raj Thackeray pic.twitter.com/asrKu5kyps

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 24, 2019

Asserting that demonetization was an abject failure, the younger cousin of Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray said the “economy has doomed with the government having no clue about creation of jobs’.” Coming out all guns blazing, Thackeray said that the country has never witnessed top CBI officers clashing in such a manner and RBI governors quitting under government pressure. The MNS chief said on the one hand minorities are being bludgeoned to death by gau rakshaks while on the other the government is pooling votes using martyrdom of Pulwama jawans. “It shows their mentality when they say businessmen are more courageous than soldiers. Isn't that an insult to the jawans,” he asked. Targeting the Election Commission over Smriti Irani’s educational qualifications, Thackeray questioned what action has the poll body taken over contradictory poll affidavits filed by the Union Minister. Alleging that the government was run by just two people - PM Modi and Amit Shah, Thackeray questioned the “source of funds BJP was using for distribution during polls.” Thackeray alleged that 2017 had maximum number of rape cases and the government was blatantly hiding the crime statistics of year 2017-18, 2018-19. Thackeray slammed PM Modi for taking news channels along with him to meet his mother during every election. He said industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Uday Kotak endorsing Milind Deora (Congress candidate for the Mumbai South constituency) is a clear indication of the direction in which the wind was blowing. Four-phase voting is taking place in Maharashtra from April 11 to April 29. Results will be declared on May 23.