Ashish Shelar Calls Aaditya Thackeray 'Urban Naxal Puppet', Challenges Him For Debate

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar has called Uddhav Thackeray's son and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray as a puppet for urban naxals after former's comments on the Dharavi Redevelopment project and has also challenged him for a debate.

Ashish Shelar said that the project is a necessity and a priority project, adding that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Congress leader Varsha Gaikwad are peddling lies.

"Aaditya Thackeray seems to have become the spokesperson of urban Naxals. Without studying the subject (Dharavi) in detail, Aaditya Thackeray is speaking like an ignorant. I have seen that these people have been trying to set a narrative regarding Dharavi and the re-development work," Ashish Shelar said.

He challenged Aaditya Thackeray and Varsha Gaikwad in a debate on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

Uddhav's Sena spreading false narrative on Dharavi redevelopment project 

"Uddhav ji and the people of his party- Aaditya Thackeray and Varsha Gaikwad have started this false narrative regarding Dharavi. I openly challenge Aaditya for a debate. I want to ask Aaditya and Varsha that 70 per cent of the homes in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will go to Marathi people, Muslims and Dalits. It is their rightful home, so why are they putting roadblocks by creating a false narrative?" he asked.

Mumbai BJP president said that the government survey is still going on to determine eligible and ineligible residents.

"Right now, the government survey is still going on to determine eligible and ineligible residents. So far only around 20,000 structures have been surveyed. So how can Aaditya Thackeray claim that 7 lakh people will be sent out of Dharavi? Who gave him this number? I ask Aaditya why are you misleading people?" he added.

"He is talking about ownership. The entire ownership of Dharavi will be with DRP, which is a Government of Maharashtra agency. DRPPL will construct the houses and hand them over to DRP," he said.

Ashish Shelar challenges Aaditya to show proof 1800 acres land given to Adani 

Ashish Shelar challenged Aaditya Thackeray to show a single document to prove 1,800 acres of land had been given to Adani.

"Aaditya Thackeray is claiming 1,800 acres of land has been given to Adani. I challenge him to show one document that proves it and I will quit politics. If not, he should retire from politics. Aaditya Thackeray does not know the tender, has not studied the facts. He is a puppet of urban Naxals. DRP and not DRPPL have been given only 540 acres of land. So where do these 1,800 acres come from? Did Sanjay Raut give him that number?" he said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray in a post on X attacked the Maharashtra government and alleged that the state government looted the BMC and Mumbai and gave the money to their favourite contractors.

"The sale of Mumbai by Eknath Shinde regime to his favourite builders and contractors. The @mybmc has now decided to auction. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandai (Market), Malabar Hill @myBESTElectric Receiving Station, Worli Asphalt Plant, To raise funds and make up for the loot of the Eknath Shinde regime," Aaditya posted on X.

He further said that so on one end, they looted the BMC and Mumbai, gave the money to their favourite contractors, and now by auctioning these iconic and important land parcels, the BMC will be left without funds and plots.

"For Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandai, it is the Eknath Shinde and BJP regime that wants to drive out Kolis and fisherfolk out of Mumbai. We will oppose this. It has to remain and be made into a fish market and in the ownership of the BMC. For the other 2 land parcels, instead of giving it to a favourite builder, our government will consider it for police housing, govt quarters," he added.

He further said that Mumbaikars must unite beyond every division, and defeat this regime that wants to drive out Mumbaikars from Mumbai.

"It's also possible that eventually Eknath Shinde and bjp will also auction the Hutatma Smarak, and earn khokes out of that too!" he said.

With inputs from PTI