Date:27/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112756971000.htm

National

Sena calls for bandh on December 1

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena has called for a Maharashtra bandh on December 1 in support of the Malegaon blast accused, including Sadhvi Pragnya Singh Thakur, and to protest against what it called an “attack on Hindutva.”

Sena leader Bal Thackeray said in a statement that the Congress government was bent on taking “revenge” on Hindus and had a policy of crushing the majority community. In the name of Malegaon blast investigation, Hindus had been defamed but now the Army was also under attack, the statement added.

The investigation, Mr. Thackeray alleged, was another bid to increase the “green vote bank.” While there were so many problems in Maharashtra, why was the government pursuing the Malegaon blast probe alone, he asked.