BJP-Sena relations never affected development of state, claims Uddhav

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said differences between the BJP and the Shiv Sena never affected the development of the country or Maharashtra. The two parties are allies in the Maharashtra and Union governments but have been at loggerheads on several issues since assuming power in 2014.

Thackeray was addressing a gathering after unveiling a new 5-year industrial policy, effective from April 1 this year, which lays emphasis on high-technology and employment generating businesses and aims to attract investments worth Rs 10 lakh crore. "Over the last few days, I am only seeing good works of the government. Whatever our relations were, whatever differences we had, we never let them affect the development of the country and the state," the Sena chief said.

Thackeray said the BJP-Sena had spent more time in the Opposition than in power, adding questions were earlier raised about the style of the present government's functioning. However, appropriate answers have been given (to these questions), he claimed.

Industrialists across the world consider Maharashtra their home and are keen to invest here, he claimed and said a government and its chief minister could only be called successful when youngsters do not have to migrate for jobs. "Lakhs of jobs will be made available through this policy. However, priority should be given to sons of the soil (for jobs)," Thackeray said.