Shiv Sena asks BJP about economy: Itna Sannata Kyun Hai Bhai

NEW DELHI: The Shiv Sena on Monday borrowed an iconic dialogue from Hindi blockbuster movie ‘Sholay’ to target the Centre over the economic slowdown, seeking to know why there was so much “silence” in markets on the occasion of Diwali and wondered if worse days were ahead.nnThe comment came in the wake of a rising Shiv Sena-BJP power sharing tussle in the next Maharashtra government, with the former demanding equal sharing of power in the govenrment and that the post of the chief minister would be shared on a rotational basis.nnSena made it clear that it would not go ahead with government formation with the BJP in the state unless it gives in writing that all Shiv Sena’s demands will be met.nn”…Itna sannata kyon hai bhai?” (why is there so much silence) is the question resonating everywhere on “silence” over the future of the country and Maharashtra, the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.nnIn the film ‘Sholay’, the dialogue was mouthed by veteran actor late A K Hangal in an emotional scene where silent villagers look on while a horse carries the body of his son killed by dacoit Gabbar Singh, portrayed by Amjad Khan.nnThe Sena used the famous dialogue to raise questions over what it termed as the “gloomy” picture of the economy, and blamed the government’s decisions of demonetisation and “faulty implementation” of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for the present situation in the country.nn”Markets have lost shine as sales figures have dropped by 30 to 40 per cent due to the looming fear of slowdown. Industries are suffering while some manufacturing units havenclosed down, leading to joblessness,” it said.nnSeveral banks are facing financial crisis and people have no money to spend, the Marathi publication said.nn”On the other hand, the government is also forced to draw funds from the RBI’s reserves. There is silence in markets on Diwali, but foreign companies, through online shopping platforms, have been filling up their coffers with the country’s money,” it rued.nnFarmers were the worst hit as their crops, which were ready to be harvested, were damaged due to the untimely rains recently, the editorial pointed out.nn”Unfortunately, nobody talks about how to bring farmers out of this,” said the Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra.nnThere was less clamour and “more silence” during the state Assembly polls held on the eve of Diwali, it claimed.nnAs the BJP’s tally went down in the state polls held last week compared to its 2014 performance, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray raised a pitch for “equal sharing” of power.nnLast week, he demanded a written assurance from the BJP for implementing “equal formula for sharing of power”, before holding talks on staking the claim to form the next alliance government in the state.nnIn the recent polls to 288-member Assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to its 2014 tally.nnThe Sena’s tally also came down to 56 seats from 63 in 2014.nnSource: Press Trust of India