BJP conspiring to turn Mumbai into Union territory: Sena leader

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut alleged on Friday that BJP was conspiring to make Mumbai a Union Territory and added that the party had submitted a presentation regarding the same before the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), PTI reported.

Addressing the media, Raut said that BJP MP Kirit Somaiya and some BJP leaders, builders, people in business etc., are part of the conspiracy. He said, "A presentation about making Mumbai a union territory has been made to the MHA (by this group). Meetings have been held, and funds are being collected for this purpose. This has been going on for the last two months, and I am saying this with full responsibility. I have proof to substantiate what I am saying. Chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) is also aware of this development."

Raut claimed that during the upcoming months, it is likely that the team led by Somaiya might move to court, saying that the city should be made a UT under the rule of the Union government since the percentage of Marathi people in Mumbai has gone down drastically. Somaiya had challenged the state government's decision to make Marathi a compulsory language in schools, Raut added.