National

Sena’s dig at Amitabh

Mumbai: Hours after his party mouthpiece Saamna dragged Amitabh Bachchan into the Hogenakkal row by praising film actor Rajinikanth, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday distanced himself from the remarks, saying it was not his views and that the actor was a “family friend.”

A front page article in the Saamna, edited by Mr. Thackeray, targeted Mr. Bachchan, who was born in Uttar Pradesh but attained stardom in Mumbai, on the issue of Marathi pride.

While praising Mr. Rajinikanth for supporting Tamil Nadu on the Hogenakkal water row with Karnataka even though he did not hail from the State, it said he had “dwarfed” actors like Mr. Bachchan, who would “backtrack when it comes to taking a firm stand on the issue of Maharashtrian regional pride.” — PTI

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