Thackeray's diktat: 50% Mumbai flats for locals

Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray has once again played the Marathi card, demanding reservation for Marathi-speaking people in Mumbai apartments and asserting that it's time for a 'Marathi' to become the country's Prime Minister.

Thackeray's diktat came as he celebrated his 82nd birthday on Wednesday. His supporters celebrated the birthday on a grand scale across the state.

Rallies and celebrations are taking place across Maharashtra with Shiv Sainiks organising blood donation camps and yagnas for the well being of their leader.

At Matoshree, the Thackeray's Mumbai residence, visitors are pouring in since the morning to wish the octogenarian leader.

A Thackeray look-alike came all the way from Pune to greet his idol. Several senior leaders and Shiv Sainiks will gather at the Shanmukhananda Hall on Wednesday evening to mark the event.

The Sena chief's new demands came in Wednesday's edition of Saamna, the Shiv Sena's mouthpiece, where Balasaheb also made remarks on Mayawati and Narendra Modi.

In what is seen as a big to woo the Maharashtrian voters, Thackeray asked builders to reserve at least 50 per cent of flats for Marathis in all new residential projects in Mumbai.

"Reserve 50 per cent of the houses for Marathi manush (common man). Otherwise, we will launch an agitation and not allow even a brick to be laid," Thackeray said.

He also said that it's time for a Marathi to take over as the Prime Minister of India. He even dropped the name of a potential candidate, saying Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar was 'prime ministerial material'.

"Pawar who left Congress on the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin went back to Congress-led United Progressive Alliance for a ministerial berth. I feel a man like him who has mettle and qualities is being wasted there," he added.

Courtesy:ibnlive.com
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