Mumbai, January 9: A day after President Ramnath Kovind cleared the Constitution (124th amendment) Act, 2019, which gives 10 percent quota for the economically weaker community of general category, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Narendra Modi-led union government for miscalculating the percentage and questioned the basis for it. He said that if the government is concerned for the general category, why don’t they exempt those below ₹8 lakhs per annum income from paying taxes?

Addressing a mass gathering at the conclave of the Sena’s Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti (SLS) Mahasangh on Sunday, the Sena chief said, “If you really want to help financially weaker section, then why don’t you exempt those below ₹8 lakhs per annum income from paying taxes? You have given reservations but have you calculated or considered the actual way of implementing reservations?” Uddhav Thackeray Targets Centre Over Rafale Deal Row, 'You do Scams in Purchase of Arms and Ammunition'.

Thackeray was of the opinion that if this reservation is not implemented correctly, it will become another ‘jumla’ (false promise) of the BJP government. Associating the Ram Mandir with 10 percent reservation promise, the Sena supremo said, “Rupee 15 lakh in accounts was a 'jumla', and now even this (Ram Temple) is a jumla? When we went to Ayodhya, people said, ‘ye to Bal Saheb ka ladka aaya hai, ye to Ram Mandir banake hi jayega.’ (Here comes Balasaheb Thackeray’s son. He will make Ram Temple) If you're making this issue also a jumla, how can you expect people to trust you?”

Taking up the issue of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he said, “They (BJP) say Congress comes in between when Ram Mandir issue comes up. Just because Congress comes in the middle, people punished them by taking away the majority and giving you the power. However, we don’t see any Ram Mandir built by you so far.”

Adding on, he also raised the issue of Lord Hanuman’s caste being discussed by political leaders. Slamming the leaders, Thackeray said, “Why is Lord Hanuman’s caste being discussed? If any other religions’ castes are discussed, it will be made a huge issue, but it’s okay to discuss Lord Hanuman’s caste. How sad it is.”

This is not the first time that Sena chief has slammed the Union government for its policies and ‘irrelevant’ statements. Earlier too, he had asked its political ally to straighten up their ways; else the party would not be able to come to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled in approximately three months.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 13, 2019 02:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).