Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Mar. 19 (NT): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray criticized the Fadnavis-led- Maharashtra government for the state funeral accorded to Bollywood icon late Sridevi after her death last month.

Raj Thackeray also alleged that media attention given to her death was a hoax to divert attention from multi-million Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud scam.

"Nirav Modi was the talk of the town, and then the issue of Sridevi came in. This was brought to change the issue. When a person like Sridevi dies, you wrap her in Tri-color and you say you did that because she was a Padma Shri," Raj Thackeray said, while addressing the party workers at a rally in central Mumbai's Shivaji Park."It was all fault of the Maharashtra government," Thackeray added.

Further condemning over Sridevi's demise, MNS head said, "It was said that Sridevi died by drowning in the bath-tub as she consumed too much of liquor. Films like 'Toilet Ek Prem Katha' and 'Padman' were a covert propaganda for government schemes."

Meanwhile, Thackeray also raised the call against Centre by asserting 'Modi-mukt Bharat.' He said, 'Today, we have to gear up for the third independence. All the political parties must unite to make Modi-mukt Bharat a reality."