Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), called for Mumbai to receive similar facilities and incentives as those provided to Gujarat’s GIFT City, while accusing the BJP of systematically undermining the city’s economic strength. Speaking at a party event, Thackeray expressed concerns about a perceived decline in Mumbai’s financial significance.
He argued that the subsidies and support offered to GIFT City should also be made available to Mumbai, claiming that the BJP’s actions are intentionally eroding the city’s economic core. Thackeray criticized the BJP for transferring crucial projects and company headquarters from Mumbai to Gujarat and Delhi, questioning how this shift would benefit Maharashtra’s economy.
Thackeray pointed out that many companies have relocated their headquarters away from Mumbai and highlighted concerns from residents of places like Jharkhand and Varanasi, who wonder why new projects favor Gujarat over other states.
Additionally, he expressed apprehension about the proposed NAINA city near the Navi Mumbai airport, particularly regarding the possibility of it being under the control of private entities such as the Adani Group. “The BJP needs to clarify whether the airport will be handed over to Adani. We will certainly oppose that,” he stated.
He also criticized delays in several infrastructure projects, including the coastal road and Atal Setu, and voiced disappointment over the declining quality of healthcare services in Mumbai’s civic hospitals. Thackeray emphasized, “Mumbai has been the backbone of India’s economy for decades. We will not allow it to lose its significance.”
