Uddhav Thackeray takes dig at MMC investment, says someone like Nirav Modi should not flee with investment

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today targeted the Narendra Modi government over the alleged Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam, questioning how it took place despite demonetisation.

Published: 22nd February 2018 06:05 PM  |   Last Updated: 22nd February 2018 07:57 PM   |  A+A-

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray (File photo)


MUMBAI: Taking a dig at the investment figures of Magnetic Maharashtra Conclave (MMC) and the flight of the prime accused Nirav Modi in the Rs 11,400 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday remarked “care should be taken to ensure that the money received as investments is not taken away by someone like Nirav Modi”.

Uddhav Thackeray who replied to queries from media persons on sidelight of a book release function at the party headquarters Sena Bhavan at Dadar stated that big people indulge in corruption and flee the country. However, the poor farmer with small loans which he cannot repay is forced to end his life. Until this paradox does not end, fixing nylon nettings at Mantralaya will not solve the issue. 

He added that the farmers cannot flee if they cannot pay their loans.

The Sena chief stated that if during demonetisation people were asked all sorts of questions while withdrawing their own money, how come people like Nirav Modi were allowed to siphon-off thousands of crores of rupees in the last two to three years?

Thackeray stated that the PNB scam has raised suspicion amongst the people about the safety of their hard-earned deposits in banks. “They (government) squeeze your necks and extract taxes from you. However, when a bank is busted by someone intentionally then the government takes responsibility of just Rs 1 lakh only. I’ve asked Sena MPs to meet the Prime Minister and Union finance minister with a memorandum to demand that the government should take full responsibility of protecting the hard-earned savings of the people,” he said.

The Sena chief further remarked that with one after the other scams like PNB tumbling out of the closet, it has put the Raffale deal on the backburner. Contrary to the state Industries minister who is from his own party, Thackeray said that several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed in the last four years and not a brick has been laid in any of them, as after signing MOUs Central and State Government policies keep on changing.

When asked whether he did not attend the MMC event because of protocol issues, Thackeray further sarcastically remarked “protocol is not the issue. Some do break protocol norms and meet Nawaz Shariff (ex-Pakistani prime minister). Replying to queries over NCP chief Sharad Pawar advocating reservation quotas based on economic criteria, the Sena president remarked it has once again proved that what late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray had been advocating for 50 years in his lifetime was not wrong after all.





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