Mumbai, Nov 27 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has vehemently condemned Union Minister Jitendra Singh for his statement expressing relief that IIT Bombay was not renamed IIT Mumbai. They branded his comment as a manifestation of mental slavery and demanded that a police case be filed against him for showing disrespect towards the city.

The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, in a scathing editorial in its publication Saamana, asserted that this remark was another attempt by the central government to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra, referencing the recent move to place Chandigarh under central governance as a similar effort.

The editorial emphasized, "All political parties in Maharashtra that value self-respect should address this issue seriously."

Uddhav Thackeray's faction criticized the ruling coalition partners—Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party—for not opposing Singh's preference for the name Bombay, suggesting they have become submissive to Delhi. The party called upon the Opposition and conscientious citizens to not only denounce the statement but also initiate a "Jodo Maro" (protest by hitting with shoes) against the Minister.

“This is Maharashtra, steeped in the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. The pride of Marathi people will not tolerate any affront to Mumbai,” the editorial stated.

Furthermore, the editorial accused the BJP leadership based in Delhi of having ulterior motives concerning Mumbai, alleging a systematic "looting" over the past decade.

It described a conspiracy, stating, “Mumbai should not remain Mumbai and must either be absorbed into Gujarat or be made reliant on Delhi. Institutions with a Marathi legacy are being nudged towards Gujarat's influence, and through the allocation of strategic land to favored entities, the rights of the Marathi populace over the city are gradually eroding.”

Additionally, it claimed that the leadership that aimed to bring Chandigarh under central administration is now pursuing a similar agenda for Mumbai.

“The Centre attempted to wrest Chandigarh from Punjab and declared that it would manage the city directly. This sparked outrage among the people of Punjab. Like Mumbai, Chandigarh is an economic hub. The Centre has schemed to ensure that it (especially Gujarat) controls these economic activities. It is increasingly clear that similar tactics may be employed against Mumbai,” the editorial posited.

In escalating its critique of the BJP-led central government, the Uddhav Thackeray faction alleged that there is a deliberate attempt to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra and place it under a Gujarat-centric administration, facilitating ongoing exploitation of the city's resources.

The editorial highlighted that Mumbai derives its name from the grace of Mumba Ai or Mumbadevi, pointing out that repeated attempts have been made to alter this heritage. It recalled how the Portuguese renamed the city Bom Bahia, which eventually evolved into Bombay, and argued that this remains the source of ongoing disputes.

According to the Shiv Sena-UBT, Jitendra Singh's preference for the name Bombay showcases a mindset influenced by colonial history. They noted that while the Prime Minister has spoken of liberating the nation from a "slavery mentality" during the Ayodhya Ram Mandir flag-hoisting ceremony, his own minister continues to celebrate a colonial-era nomenclature.

“What kind of repercussions will he face?” they questioned.