BOMBAY, 21 June 2006 — The proverb “old habits die hard” applies to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray perfectly.
In a public speech laced with hatred against the Muslims, which he delivered on Monday to mark the 40th foundation day of the Sena, Thackeray was back at his subject of Muslim bashing.
Spitting venom and launching a frontal attack on Muslims, Thackeray called upon Hindus to maintain unity and hand a humiliating defeat to the Muslims.
“Hindus have already been divided. Attempts to create division of the country in the name of reservations, caste and religion have been initiated and are in progress,” Thackeray said.
Roaring like a wounded tiger, attacking Muslims, Thackeray further said that the process of granting reservations to Muslims in the army and police has begun.
Time has come now for the Hindus to awaken from their deep slumber and stop the Muslims in their tracks, Thackeray exhorted Hindus.
Thackeray suggested that to halt the growth of Muslim fundamentalism, the Hindus should take the help of the Naxalites and also equip themselves with latest sophisticated weapons and ammunition to confront and challenge the Muslims, and defeat them.
Whenever any incident related to the sentiments of the Muslims occur in any part of the world, the Muslims in Bombay had tried to exhibit their power. Therefore, the Hindus should not remain like cowards and impotents, but prove their manhood to the Muslims, Thackeray said.
On the issue of reservation, Thackeray said that it is high time this game of reservations is stopped immediately. The Shiv Sena has always been on the forefront of upholding the pride of the Hindus and has never compromised on any issue relating to Marathi people. When NCP legislator Shalinitai Patil opposed the reservation, eggs were pelted at her by Republican Party activist. Where had been these activists when the statue of Buddha was being broken in Afghanistan? Thackeray asked Meanwhile in another development, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) engaged itself in a damage control exercise following uproar in the media and the NGO over the alleged fake encounter at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on June 1.
Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and home minister R R Patil who belongs to the NCP, speaking to the media in Pune on Monday evening, said that it was completely wrong to hold the entire Muslim community responsible for anti-national acts of a few. Patil however, refrained from coming clear on the allegations of fake encounter or commenting on it.
Hinting at the arrests of 14 Muslim youths by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Bombay police on alleged charges of terrorism, Patil said “If one person from a particular community was arrested, it does not mean that the entire community is anti-national. Also there is absolutely no need to examine and investigate into the functioning of the madrasas.” Referring to the war of words between him and Arab News correspondent on the encounter subject, Patil giving a mischievous smile told the assembled senior police officials “The Pune media is extremely sensitive and aggressive. Please handle them with utmost caution and care.”
Later addressing, a seminar of senior IPS officials at the Pune Police Commissionerate, Patil expressed his deep concern at the increased growth of corruption in the police department. He advised the officials to invoke provisions of Article 311 of the Indian Constitution without any hesitation to dismiss corrupt police officers and policemen from service without holding any enquiry.
The home minister also expressed his displeasure about the rude and unruly behavior of the police toward the citizens who visit the police station and also about the traffic cops. “I have received several complaints in this matter, and I ma handing these to the city police commissioner to take stern action” he told the police officers.
