Mamata Banerjee meets Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree in Mumbai

MUMBAI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, the latter's residence. Banerjee said that ‘khela’ has started and it will go on. Banerjee said that she would come to Maharashtra for the state assembly elections and campaign for Uddhav Thackeray.

Banerjee also slammed the PM Narendra Modi led centre over declaring June 25, the day the Emergency was declared in 1975, as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ saying that there was more of an emergency in the country under PM Modi. Banerjee said that the criminal laws were changed in the country in the name of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) without consulting anyone. Banerjee said that 147 MPs were suspended and three new criminal law bills were brought. Banerjee said that the govt at the centre may not continue as it was not a stable govt. Banerjee slammed the BJP for taking away the Shiv Sena name and symbol and said that despite that Uddhav Thackeray fought like a tiger.

Banerjee arrived in the city on Thursday for the wedding of industrialist Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani. This was Banerjee's first meeting with Thackeray since Lok Sabha poll results. Uddhav said that they have family relations of a brother and sister between them. “There was nothing political about the meeting,” Uddhav said.

“In West Bengal we can’t adjust with the Congress or CPI(M). We fought the CPI(M) and came to power. If Congress, BJP and CPI(M) work together, we will have problems. But we are in the INDIA bloc together. They (centre) took away the Shiv Sena’s name and symbol. This was absolutely unethical. But despite that they fought like a tiger. I like it,” Banerjee said.

“Our party stand is very clear. Unity in diversity is our ideology. We will protect it. There is more of an emergency in the country under Modiji. They brought new criminal laws in the country without asking anyone. 147 MPs were suspended and these laws were brought. Today, no one knows how to file an FIR either. Which case and FIR has to be filed and and in which cases it is not supposed to be filled, no one knows. Even doctors will be out in jail for 6 years. Everyone is afraid. We don't support the emergency, but charity begins at home. They won one seat (Lok Sabha seat in Mumbai) by 48 votes. Like this they have captured so many seats. Otherwise this time, they would not have come to power. This govt (at the centre) may not continue also. It is not a stable govt. My best wishes to Uddhav ji. I will meet Sharad Pawar. Whenever I am in Mumbai I meet Uddhav ji and Sharadji,” Banerjee said.