Who are Raj and Aaditya Thackeray to threaten me?: Annamalai on ‘rasmalai’ jibe

A day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticised BJP leader K. Annamalai, the former Tamil Nadu unit president launched a scathing attack on Mr. Thackeray on Monday, accusing him and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray for holding meetings just to “insult and abuse him”.

“I am a proud son of a farmer; who are Raj Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray to threaten me? I am not even aware that I have become this big,” the BJP leader said while speaking to media in Chennai on Monday.

Mr. Raj Thackeray and Mr. Annamalai locked horns after the latter during campaigning for the BJP candidates in the Dharavi area of Mumbai uttered a statement saying: “Mumbai is not just a Maharashtra city, but an international city”.

Calling him ‘rasmalai’, Mr. Raj on Sunday slammed him for “interfering” into Mumbai’s scheme of things, while he is an “outsider” and said: “What is his connection to Mumbai? [Shiv Sena founder] Balasaheb Thackeray gave the right slogan — Hatao lungi bajao pungi (Remove the lungi-wearing persons, blow the bugle)”. The slogan is a slur used by the Shiv Sena in the 1960s against South Indians working in Mumbai.

‘Thackerays are ignorant’

Responding to these remarks, Mr. Annamalai called the Thackerays “ignorant” and said, “If I say [late Congress leader] Kamaraj was a big leader, does it mean he is not a Tamilian? Likewise, if I call Mumbai an international city, does it dismiss the contribution of Maharashtrians?”

Mr. Annamalai visited Mumbai last week to campaign for BJP candidates in Tamil-dominant regions in Mumbai for the upcoming civic body elections scheduled on January 15. During one of the campaign rallies, Mr. Annamalai addressed Mumbai as “Bombay” and highlighted the need for a “triple-engine Sarkar” in Maharashtra, including a BJP mayor in the State capital’s civic body.

His comments attracted criticism from the Opposition, especially Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, which was reflected in their public meeting held on Sunday at Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

Mr. Annamalai also claimed he has received threats and challenged the Thackerays, saying: “I have received threats in writing, where some people want to cut my legs. I don’t fear them. I will come again.”

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended his party colleague, saying Mr. Annamalai’s statement is not to be taken seriously. “It is a truth that Mumbai is an international city, but he did not mean [any harm in] his statement….these people (Opposition) are treating Annamalai as the Prime Minister.”