Exclusive: Read full interview of Raj Thackeray to Rajat Sharma in 'Aap Ki Adalat' (Part 1)

New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to India TV Editor-in-chief Rahjat Sharma on his popular ‘Aap Ki Adalat' show, MNS chief Raj Thackeray for the first time publically expressed his desire of becoming Chief Minister of Maharashtra in case his party gets a majority in the assembly.In a no- holds- barred interview with Rajat Sharma, Raj Thackeray opened up on a range of issues from his perceived disdain for North Indians ,his relations with Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray as well as his unsolicited support to BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.Here is the full transcript of the interview: Rajat Sharma (RS): Raj ji you make such provocative statements that all the leaders are scared of you. Raj Thackeray: I just believe in speaking truth and probably that is why leaders are scared of my statements. RS: …You can say anything to anyone and anywhere…? I'll give an instance of this. You termed Prithviraj Chavan, Maharashtra's Chief Minister, as Manmohan Singh minus turban. Raj: Yes because he doesn't talk. And if you ask anyone in Maharashtra then they'll tell you that he doesn't even work. I don't know much about Manmohan Singh but both of them have similarities. Neither of them speaks; neither of them does anything productive. So I thought he must be Manmohan Singh minus turban. RS: But you know the Deputy CM very well. You had released his posters with “Ajit Dada Mutralaya” written on that. I have that poster with me. Raj: I didn't release that. My party members must have released it because… (Rajat Sharma shows him the poster)…yes they must have…because he had made such a statement. RS: What could he have said that you had to make “Ajit Dada Mutralaya”? Raj: He'd said, “If there is no water in Maharashtra then from where should I get it? Should I go and urinate in that block?” No minister speaks in this manner, right? Maharashtra is witnessing famine. People don't have drinking water, leave alone water for agriculture. And if a responsible minister uses this kind of language then I think he is wrong. RS: Okay, his language was wrong and you made posters of him. Your supporters say “Raj Thackeray palak aur Sharad Pawar balak”. (Audience laughs)Raj: No, I've not heard of this. RS: (Rajat Sharma shows him a poster of graphical presentation of “Raj Thackeray palak aur Ajit Pawar balak”, created by his supporters. Raj: Somebody must have made it, I'm unaware of this. It's a good thing that you are telling me. RS: So these are light issues. Now I'll come to some serious statements made by you. You'd said that if Ajit Pawar comes without his security personnel around him then he'll not be able to return on his feet. Raj: Yes, I'd said that because last year I had rallies in two or three places. Naturally there are some political allegations in rallies. I had gone to a particular place and their people stoned our vehicles. So I think I'd made this statement that time.RS: Do you understand what this means?Raj: Certainly!RS: Breaking someone's hands and legs…Raj: Of course!RS: …By breaking into his house…?Raj: Yes!RS: Then you said – pick up Ministers' vehicles one by one and break them. Raj: This I presume was said by Sharad Pawar's daughter. RS: You are absolutely right. You have an immaculate memory. But after she said that, you responded by saying that we'll definitely do that. Raj: Whatever I have said till this date , I remember everything . And I also remember what others have said.RS: Do you remember that you told farmers – why do you commit suicide? Kill those who have done injustice to you.Raj: I only said that why are you committing suicide this way , If you are committing suicide because of somebody then kill somebody before dying this way.RS: Why do you keep talking about dying and killing?Raj: See, The people about whom I make such statement, they all have only this status (Aukat). RS: When your supporters had smashed the toll, do you remember saying that CM has promised to alter toll policy after Model code of conduct comes to an end? Raj: YesRS: While interacting with India TV reporter, Chief Minister said that there is no issue of toll, I have not given any assurance to Raj and I'm not going to do anything about it. Raj: I know he is not going to do anything on this. After Model code is Conduct comes to an end, we'll do it ourselves. But I knew that he'd lie. That's why I'd taken some journalists along with me for that meeting. We had some editors and reporters. So it's not like he had just spoken to me. You can also cross – check with them on the assurance that he had given to me. I had told him that there are 22 tolls in Maharashtra. Cost of constructing roads is a little over 2 – 5 crore (per road) and the sum total would amount to around 100 crore. Now this amount can be covered in less than a year but tolls are given for 22 or 23 years. Its pointless collecting toll when the cost has been recovered. He (CM) said that he has got the point and he'll have them removed. RS: Preventing toll is a good act but the violent manner in which you are having them removed…? Raj: If they cannot comprehend simple and straight forward language then what other choice do I have? (Audience cheers and applauds). I have never initiated any surly talk. Primarily I send a request and provide explanation to it. And then…RS: He said that since elections were drawing near, you were simply trying to generate popularity. Raj: But I have been discussing this for the past one and a half year. Then there were no elections. And there is no other business in our country other than elections. Once these elections are over then other election will start and this process continues. So when will you work? Whenever we do something then it's said that they are doing it for elections. RS: But will you benefit in the elections through all this?Raj: It's not about profit or loss. I'm not against toll. I'm against the process of toll collection. See,, all roads in Maharashtra are in bad condition including those where tolls are collected. Despite this, you are collecting 10-11 types of taxes for roads. As a citizen, this is my right to know where this money is heading. Why are we not getting good roads if such huge amount of money is going into that?Audience: Mumbai city has seen vertical growth. How will you support us in ensuring that people earn their bread and butter and there is no space crunch on roads and streets.Raj: I can't do anything from outside. You need government for doing anything. If I do anything from outside, you will say I'm doing ‘tod-phod'.RS: How can they give you government in your hand. You don't contest elections.Raj: This is not about contesting elections. If we come into power, I'll definitely be the Chief Minister.RS: So for the first time, you are saying that You will be the Chief Minister if MNS gets the majority.Raj: Of course…It's not my ambition to sit in CM residence. If power is exercised properly, miracles do happen. I have seen it. I have seen it in Gujarat. Here, many times those who sit in power consider themselves to be the owners. I think they should sit like trustees. RS: This is election season. You are also in the fray. Everybody is saying that there is Modi wave and you can sense it too. Is that why to are trying to win by holding on to his tail. Raj: No. I don't need to grapple anyone's tail. In 2011, I had gone for my rounds to Gujarat. I stayed there for over 10 days. Then while returning to Mumbai I had a press conference. At that point of time Narendra Modi was nowhere in the political scenario as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate. Then there were talks of Sushmaji and Advaniji. I had then said that India needs a Prime Minister like Narendra Modi. When no one in this country had recommended it, Raj Thackeray had said that. No one had objected then. RS: I know that you are an astute player of politics. You understood the position over one and a half year back…Raj: That's a good thing!RS: But there problem lies with Shiv Sena. BJP's alliance is with them and you are pasting posters. Raj: One of our candidates committed that mistake and we ensured that those poster were removed. Ten of my candidates are contesting. You will not find any one of them with Modi posters. RS: You had them removed. That's fine. But what about you saying in the press meetings that if Narendra Modi requires your support you will give him from your heart. Raj: But what's wrong with that?RS: Raj Thackerayji, the alliance is between Shiv Sena and BJP. Why are you interfering?Raj: I don't have to interfere… but if I appreciate someone's work. In future if he indeed becomes the Prime Minister and one of my candidate is an MP then we can support Modi. What's wrong with that?RS: The problem arises when people think that you have an alliance with Modi and BJP and MNS have an alliance. Raj: Well, this is all about perception. Whatever I said, I said from my heart and I have all the right to say that. I don't have to walk around with Narendra Modi's photo and ask for votes. But if he does not perform well, our nation's condition will deteriorate. Had I not expressed my support for Modi, people like you would have said that he is a clandestine congress supporter? Now if I say I'm supporting him, I'm being question on my stand here too.RS: I won't get my turn to say that. Rajnath Singh, President of BJP said, “I've heard all the political parties are going to support Narendra Modi. “Are bhai kahe bina samarthan mange samarthan dene ke liye aap pareshan hain (why are you concerned with supporting him without being asked for the same)?” If someone has to support then either form an alliance with BJP, or merge with the party – only then can you support it. Why are you unnecessarily beguiling the public? Politics must be carried out with honesty”. Raj: True! I have extended my support to Narendra Modi and not to Rajnath Singh. If anyone has objection to this then Narendra Modi should come up and speak and not Rajnath Singh. RS: Recently Narendra Modi was with us in Aap Ki Adalat and I'd asked him this question. He said that what could I do if someone wants to support me?Raj: So, the matter comes to an end. RS: It's not over yet. The moment you take Narendra Modi's name, Uddhav Thackeray gets irked. Raj: What can I do about that…what can I do? RS: You'll break their alliance.Raj: I don't need to do that. If you see, their divorce papers have already been filed in the court. RS: The moment you speak, we see Rajiv Pratap Rudy going to placate him. Raj: How can I stop that?RS: But you are the reason behind this.Raj: What can I do?(Contd......)

Exclusive: Read full interview of Raj Thackeray to Rajat Sharma in 'Aap Ki Adalat' (Part 1)

New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to India TV Editor-in-chief Rahjat Sharma on his popular ‘Aap Ki Adalat' show, MNS chief Raj Thackeray for the first time publically expressed his desire of becoming Chief Minister

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Exclusive: Read full interview of Raj Thackeray to Rajat Sharma in 'Aap Ki Adalat' (Part 1)

New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to India TV Editor-in-chief Rahjat Sharma on his popular ‘Aap Ki Adalat' show, MNS chief Raj Thackeray for the first time publically expressed his desire of becoming Chief Minister

More From Politics

ED raids Punjab Minister Sanjeev Arora in money laundering probe, CM Bhagwant Mann targets BJP

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​Amid Opposition's unity bid, BJP's counter-strategy of key inductions ahead of 2024 polls

Chirag Paswan to meet Amit Shah in Delhi, return to NDA on the cards?

​On PM Modi's jibe at Patna meeting, TMC says 'It's you who is leading largest opposition party'

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