MNS chief Raj praises Rahul Gandhi, calls him ‘Param Pujya’

Suddenly, as Congress has done well in the state polls, many seem to be flowing with the tide. The once caustic Raj Thackeray, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), who equated Rahul Gandhi the president of Congress party with a truck cleaner--saying he waves like the truck cleaner wipes the bonnet glass, has suddenly showered praises on him. Taking pot-shots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for terming Rahul as ‘Pappu’ Raj said, the real meaning of Pappu is ‘Param Pujya’ (highly revered).

Reacting to the results of the assembly polls on Tuesday, Raj, said the results was a slap in the face of the dictatorship of BJP. During his short interaction with the media Raj praised efforts taken by Rahul to win the five states.

While congratulating voters of Gujarat for showing courage to bring down BJP in the assembly polls, Raj said, “It was Rahul alone who fought against the BJP in Gujarat. Even in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Rahul was alone to take on the BJP.” Raj credited Rahul of the victory in these five states which has proved that he is not Pappu but Param Pujya.

Raj said there is no need of Ram mandir in today's times. "Today the country does not need a Ram temple, instead we need Ram rajya (good governance). The government does not have anything to show to the people as it has not done anything in the last four and a half years. Thus, matters of faith are being put forward," Raj said.

According to Raj, the results in five states will affect the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls.