PANAJI
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday promised to take Goa and Goa’s elections seriously even as he refrained from announcing any concrete political plans saying that after Diwali will be the time he will do so.
“In Goa, the impression is that Shiv Sena only come and goes during the time of elections. The rest of the time they are back in Mumbai. This is true. We admit our mistake it will not happen again. We now have Sanjay Raut an MP who is in-charge of political affairs in Goa besides also Deepak Kesarkar,” Thackeray told reporters at a press meet. “I am here on a political visit, which has involved political discussions in view of the upcoming elections and other to strengthen the party. I am here to strengthen the party and will be coming more often,” he added.
“In the last few times we have not contested elections because of the impression that we will bring the same ideas and as that of what was being done in Maharashtra. But in Goa we will be for Goans and what Goans want,” Thackeray said.
When asked how he will deal with the fact that Goa has 25% Catholic Population, Thackeray said Catholics do not clash with their Hindutva ideology.
“There is no denial that we are a party with Hindutva ideology. But that does not mean we hate other religions. Our principle of Hindutva is surrounding the person who is patriotic in his views and act. We have never fought with Catholics even in Maharashtra. We will continue with the peaceful existence. The communal harmony existing in Goa will continue even in future,” he said.
Thackeray confirmed that he met Goa Suraksha Manch chief Subhash Velingkar and said that the political discussions which are still ongoing would continue.
Pressed for his opinion on several issues, like that of casinos and whether they would push for Marathi as the official language of the state, Thackeray remained cagey offering not to comment saying it wasn’t necessary that he gives his opinion on every issue.
On issues like that of the Medium of Instruction in the mother tongue, Thackeray said that it would be one of the crucial issues ahead of the elections but not the only issue. He refused to confirm or deny whether he met other political leaders in the state including MGP chief Sudin Dhavalika or others.
