THEY are not known to be the best of friends in the political arena but they know the importance of peaceful co-existence in a federal set-up. Uddhav Thackeray, chief minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra, on Tuesday, June 8, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and the duo discussed a number of issues, including Maratha reservation, Metro car shed and GST (Goods & Services Tax) compensation. Thackeray was accompanied by his Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party and senior state Cabinet Minister Ashok Chavan of the Congress.
Thackery later told news outlet ANI that while he is not politically together with Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party, it didn’t mean that their relationship has been broken. The Shiv Sena leader then said there was nothing wrong in meeting Modi for he wasn’t meeting Nawaz Sharif. Sharif is a former prime minister of Pakistan who Modi had met in Pakistan in a surprise visit in December 2015. Sena, a Hindutva outfit, is one of the most vocal critics of Pakistan in India’s socio-political circles.
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“We may not be politically together but that doesn't mean our relationship has broken. 'Main koi Nawaz Sharif se nahi milne gaya tha' (I didn't go to meet Nawaz Sharif). So if I meet him (PM) separately in person, there is nothing wrong with it,” Thackeray, who quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in 2019, said. He became the first member of the Thackeray family to become the chief minister of the state with the support of the NCP and Congress.
He said PM Modi assured to look into the issues that he and his aides raised with the Centre, including giving Maratha the status of a classical language. "Discussed issues related to the Maratha reservation, Metro car shed, GST compensation with the prime minister," the CM said. Pawar, who holds the state's finance portfolio, said issues pertaining to GST compensation were also discussed in the meeting, Press Trust of India added.
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