Mumbai / Ramesh Autade
“Democracy in the country has been reduced to a mess, and it is certain that something major will happen in the next four to five months,” Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray warned in Mumbai, triggering a political stir.
Thackeray was speaking to reporters after inaugurating a photography exhibition titled ‘Dance Democracy’, organised by the Mumbai Press Club. MNS leaders Bala Nandgaonkar and Amit Raj Thackeray were also present at the event.
During the interaction, Thackeray spoke candidly on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the country's emerging political situation, law and order, and various social issues.
‘Bring Back Ballot Papers’
Questioning the existing electoral system, Thackeray said, “We have been demanding elections through ballot papers since 2014. Whether it is our neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, or developed nations elsewhere in the world, voting is conducted through ballot papers in many places.”
He claimed that France had discontinued machine-based voting and returned to ballot papers after a citizen raised doubts about the system. Recalling the earlier ballot paper system, he said it offered a different sense of satisfaction to voters.
“Even when the results of the 1995 Maharashtra Assembly elections took a month to be declared, such confusion never occurred,” he said.
‘Democracy Has Been Ruined’
Criticising the state of democracy in India, Thackeray said democratic freedoms were still visible in the United States, where people had the freedom and platforms to express their views.
“However, democracy in our country has been reduced to a mess. This is something unprecedented in history,” he said.
Expressing concern over the country's current political and social climate, he predicted major developments over the next four to five months.
“Something major will happen in the country in the next four to five months. Many things about this government will come out, and the government will continue making one mistake after another. It should come as no surprise if people take to the streets during this period,” he said.
Alleges Attempts to Silence Critics
Thackeray alleged that critics were being silenced for expressing their views on social media, citing posts concerning Sameer Bhatia and Gautam Adani.
“No one comes to power with a permanent guarantee of remaining there. If we find ourselves in the Opposition tomorrow, should we not realise that some of our past actions were wrong?” he asked.
Using a metaphor about political change, he remarked that the “half-pants have become full-pants”, adding that change in the country was necessary.
Thackeray also asserted that the BJP's rise to power in 2014 was primarily due to Narendra Modi and not the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
BJP Accused of Disrupting Peaceful Protest
Commenting on the protests involving the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Thackeray alleged that the BJP had sent its people into a peaceful protest by young participants to create disorder.
“Children were protesting peacefully, but the BJP sent its people into the protest to create chaos. Things are being made to unfold exactly as the BJP wants,” he alleged.
‘There Is Law, but No Order’
Taking aim at the government's handling of law and order, Thackeray said, “There is ‘law’ in the country, but there is no ‘order’.”
He expressed complete confidence in the police, saying they could effectively deal with criminal elements if given sufficient freedom to act.
“I have 100 per cent faith in the police. Give them a little leeway, and they will set all the goons straight. But this government does not allow the police to function as they should,” he said.
Thackeray also observed that even television channels that had remained silent until now were beginning to speak out. He said fear among people was gradually declining and anger across different sections of society was increasingly finding expression.
Congress–MNS Alliance: ‘There Is Still Time’
Asked whether the Congress and the MNS would join hands for the upcoming elections, Thackeray said there was still considerable time before the polls. “We will see when the time comes. There is no need to discuss this question at present,” he said.
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