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Bal Thackeray attacks Sonia, Raj, and Narayan Rane

Bal Thackeray

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Thursday attacked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and chided her for lecturing the Sikhs on their own religion.

Addressing the 43rd Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, Mr. Thackeray asked Ms. Gandhi what was the need to speak to Sikhs about their own Guru. “What do you know about Guru Gobind Singh,” he asked.

Mr. Thackeray, who had to be prompted several times during his half-an-hour speech repeatedly, said that his strength was gone and he was very weak.

His voice broke often. He addressed the gathering sitting on a chair. He told the audience which gave him a standing ovation that he was advancing in age and his body was tired. “You must be surprised I have a stick in my hand but without it how can I drive away the monkeys,” he remarked.

He also trained his guns on his pet peeve Narayan Rane and his estranged nephew, Raj Thackeray.

Mr. Thackeray reiterated the Shiv Sena’s ethos and said the Sena was born for the Marathi manoos. He referred to his son Uddhav, who made his first speech at Shivaji Park on Thursday.

“Uddhav is soft spoken and not aggressive but you decide,” he told his audience. The Sena leader said he did not have any advice to give his followers.

He said the party would continue to remain even if people left it. Mr. Thackeray was prompted by Sena leader Manohar Joshi to speak on the bomb blasts. He said the blasts continued as there was no one to stop them.

He said those who can’t deal with terrorism had no right to be in power.

“Whatever happens, all of you must take a pledge that you will not let the Congress come to power,” he added.

He said the Muslims were very alert and organised when their religion was threatened but no one cared for Hinduism. He said he was not taking up the issue of Hindutva for votes.

He said the police caught the terrorists with great difficulty and then they were let off.

Mr. Thackeray said the politics of corruption and money was sending the country down the drain and he asked the Hindus to rise and take action.

He also added that Maharashtra was in a very bad state and there was poverty all around.

“There is a great need to lift Maharashtra out of its present condition and only the Sena can do it,” he claimed.

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