NITI Aayog's MMR Blueprint a Ploy to Separate Mumbai From Maharashtra: Uddhav

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday alleged that NITI Aayog's blueprint to develop metropolitan region was a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra by undermining BMC's importance.

If voted to power, Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) will scrap MoU signed between World Economic Forum (WEF) and MMRDA as it is aimed at diminishing Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's importance, he said.

dressing a rally at BKC ground in Mumbai on penultimate day before campaigning for assembly elections concluded, Thackeray said he wouldn't hesitate to disband MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) if it encroaches on BMC's jurisdiction.

"A conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra is not just a loose talk but an impending serious crisis. ploy is real but we will never allow this to happen," he said.

Thackeray said MMRDA and WEF signed an agreement in September to develop MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) as a global economic hub which was signed after Niti Aayog's report on MMR development.

" Niti Aayog's blueprint diminishes importance of Mumbai civic body which is a ploy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra," he alleged.

Thackeray said first decision of MVA government will be to scrap policies of (Mahayuti) government which handed over Mumbai's land to ani group.

former chief minister said he was "not anti-development but is anti-destruction".

Thackeray claimed MVA government heed by him was toppled (in June 2022) and Shiv Sena split because he h not allowed looting of Maharashtra.

In an apparent reference to Shiv Sena MLAs' disqualification case in Supreme Court, saying, " courts haven't given me justice. I seek justice from you for sake of Maharashtra".

Thackeray said BJP h to construct statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who h banned RSS, in Gujarat and seek votes in Maharashtra in Balasaheb Thackeray's name, which he said was "revenge of time".

Attacking PM Narendra Modi over "Ek hai to Safe Hai" slogan, Thackeray said if people feel unsafe while Modi is at helm n he should resign.

"Only corrupt and traitors feel safe when Modi is around," he alleged.

Thackeray said Maharashtra was facing a grave crisis as "airports, ports, electricity, mines, and schools are being handed over to ani".

Urging people to support MVA, Thackeray said Maharashtra will be destroyed if Mahayuti returns to power.

Thackeray recalled Shiv Sena's support for abrogation of Article 370 and Bal Thackeray sheltering Kashmiri pandits fleeing persecution.

"Amit Shah and Narendra Modi weren't known to world at that time," he said.

Targeting BJP over its poll campaign, he said scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir doesn't impact Minimum Support Price, unemployment, and women's security in Maharashtra.

He said people of Gujarat should realise that Modi and Amit Shah have created a barrier between western state and rest of country.

"How can y move projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat? You should stop m," he ded.