New Delhi: Taking potshots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over Mumbai cruise drug bust case, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has alleged this matter is being used by the ruling dispensation at the Centre to defame Maharashtra.
“Is (drugs seizure) only happening in Maharashtra? Drugs worth crores were seized from Mundra Port. Where is this Mundra port situated?” asked Thackeray.
“While your agencies (NCB) were recovering pinch of ganja, our police recovered drugs worth Rs 150 crores. You are only interested to catch celebrities and get pictures clicked,” he added addressing an event in Mumbai on Friday, ANI reported.
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Asserting “Hindutva means love for the nation”, the Chief Minister said Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray “had said that we are citizens first, religion comes later”.
“When we step out of houses by keeping religion at home, the nation becomes our religion. It is our duty to speak against anyone who does anything in religion's name,” he added.
Thackeray also lashed out at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its brand of Hindutva.
“People say that Garba is not being allowed, what kind of Hindutva is this? Hindutva is a social service. We do not think of religion or caste at the time of donating blood. We do not see if the blood is Hindu, Muslim or Marathi,” said Thackeray.
“Shivaji Maharaj and Shiv Sena founder had taught us that we should not be afraid of anything. We are not scared of ED and CBI. We are not the ones to hide behind police after making threats,” he added.
Earlier on October 2, a team of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raided the Goa-bound Cordelia cruise based on a tip-off that a rave party was scheduled on the ship and allegedly seized drugs.
The NCB officials also arrested Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and several others in connection with the case.