Mumbai debate a Congress conspiracy, says Sena

Terming the debate on Mumbai-for-all as a conspiracy to separate the megapolis from Maharashtra, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said his party would never let it happen.

"Why is there a sudden controversy over Mumbai when nothing has happened here. It is a conspiracy to separate the city from Maharashtra and we would never let it happen," Uddhav told reporters

On who is trying to separate the city from the state, he blamed the Congress.

"No one should think that Sena has softened its stand on Mumbai. We would take to the streets to save Mumbai and to keep Maharashtra united," Uddhav said.

He also opposed the idea of separate Vidarbha and said the agitation for it is to weaken the state.

Raising question on the timing of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mumbai scheduled later this week, Uddhav said, "What was the need for this visit now. There may be elections in Bihar, but we will not tolerate anything spoken against Mumbai and Marathi pride."

Criticising Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for his statement assuring foreign players security during the ensuing Indian Premier League matches, Uddhav questioned, "Is he the Home Minister of India or Pakistan."

"If Chidambaram wants to protect Pakistani players, he should go to Pakistan," Uddhav said.  Uddhav asked senior leaders in Congress to advice Rahul Gandhi over the Mumbai issue. "Rahul's babble about Mumbai should stop and senior Congress leaders should explain him the issue," he said.

Uddhav lashed out at Chief Minister Ashok Chavan for not favouring Marathi people and changing his stand on issuing licences to taxi drivers.

"I am ashamed of the chief minister who cannot speak in favour of Marathi when every other chief minister talks about his state's pride," Uddhav said.

On Pakistani player and relative of most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim, Javed Miandad's visit to Sena chief's residence 'Matoshree' in 2004, Uddhav said it was true.

"Miandad had come to request Thackeray Sr. to allow Pakistani players to play here. But Thackeray refused. Even an official from Pakistan High Commission had also come for the same. We did not oblige anyone," Uddhav said.

Backing the party activists' protest against Shah Rukh Khan's film 'My Name is Khan', Uddhav said, "Shah Rukh did a mistake by speaking in favour of Pakistani players while even Union Sport Minister M S Gill had also opposed the country playing with them after the 26/11 attacks."