ABP Ideas Of India: ED, CBI Start Election Campaigns In States Going To Polls, Says Aaditya Thackeray

ABP Ideas of India: Aaditya was speaking at the session titled ‘Cooperative Federalism | The Rise of Regions: Vision India@2047’. ABP Network’s Romana Isar Khan chaired the session.

Aaditya Thackeray, Minister for Tourism, Environment & Protocol, Government of Maharashtra

ABP Ideas of India: “The idea we should be wondering about today is why the youth of our nation will think about joining politics in this era of vindictive politics,” stressed Aaditya Thackeray, Minister for Tourism, Environment & Protocol, Government of Maharashtra, and president of Yuva Sena.

He was speaking at ABP Network’s ‘Wild Stone presents Ideas of India Summit’ on Friday. “Maharashtra has produced many political legends from diverse political parties who have done much for the nation. All of them have had different perspectives and ideologies but no one spoke against each other’s families,” said Aaditya. 

“Today, a political war is being fought and one can see a pattern being followed by the Union government. In states where elections are due in a couple of months, it is the central agencies like ED or CBI who start the election campaigning through multiple raids.”

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Aaditya was speaking at the session titled ‘Cooperative Federalism | The Rise of Regions: Vision India@2047’. ABP Network’s Romana Isar Khan chaired the session.

Asked if conflicting and not co-operative federalism was followed in Maharashtra, the young politician said: “If one keeps politics apart and follows co-operative federalism in administration, it will be better. I must also add that during the pandemic, we did get co-operation from the Centre and states, although there were certain issues regarding policies and administration.”

While Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray was known for his staunch Hindutva principles, his grandson Aaditya asserted that his party is a far cry from the BJP’s aggressive Hindutva stance. “Whatever we promise, we deliver and that is our Hindutva,” he said. Asked if Yogi Adityanath is India’s new Hindutva symbol after his swearing-in as Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister for a second term, Aaditya said, “India is a democracy. Every state has different needs, a different social-economic fabric and elects people accordingly.”

Responding to a question on BJP’s attack on dynasty politics, Aaditya said, “I think my parivaar is my country. Few people know that my great grandfather, Prabodhankaar Thackeray, was a social reformer and this is our fourth generation in social service. I take great pride in it and there is no embarrassment or insecurity in dynasty politics. What is important is the thought that whatever work I will do today will yield results for the future generations.”

Will The Kashmir Files will be made tax-free in Maharashtra? Aaditya said, “If the film’s revenue will be of help to the Kashmiri Brahmins, then more people should see the film. However, art should be appreciated in itself and history on the ground should be given importance.”

He agreed that often not much focus is given on his portfolios - tourism and environment. “In Maharashtra, however, tourism is becoming very important. Not many people are aware about its beaches, spiritual tourism or heritage tourism. Tourism can also generate more direct and indirect employment than any other sector annually.”

Environment is also a big issue today globally and sustainable development is the keyword of the day, thinks Aaditya. “Development is for human life and without sustainability we cannot go forward. In my state with the help of partner institutes, we conduct climate mapping, heat mapping, contour mapping to protect the environment. Wherever flyovers are built, massive deforestation occurs and this leads to extreme heat. In Dharavi enough heat is generated through indiscriminate usage of plastic. However, development is also necessary there. So we have to think of sustainable projects like solar rooftops, afforestation etc to save the environment.”

Aaditya stressed that Maharashtra, along with states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Delhi can attain carbon neutrality by 2050. The state has set up 10 conservation resorts, 2 sanctuaries and has reserved 800 acres of land as forest, he informed.

Giving us a peek into his personal side, Aaditya said that he shared a very cordial relationship with his grandfather, Bal Thackeray and shared many a conversation with him. He feels such interactions fuelled his desire to become a politician. He also shares his grandfather’s love for the environment, he added.