MUMBAI, 31 October 2007 — In a sensational disclosure, Raj Thackeray, president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and estranged nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, on Monday revealed that a conspiracy was hatched by Sena activists to kill him.
Speaking in front of a large rally of party activists and supporters in Thane district, Raj said that after coming to know of the conspiracy hatched by Sena activists to kill him, he was compelled to quit Shiv Sena and form his own MNS party.
Raj alleged that Sena activists planned to attack him while driving out of the state government Circuit House in the Sindhudurg district of Konkan. He also alleged that the blame was then to be put on Congress party leader and state Revenue Minister Narayan Rane.
The MNS leader, however, did not name the conspirators who planned to kill him. Rumors are afloat that Raj was indirectly referring to his cousin and working president of the Sena Uddhav Thackeray.
How could I continue to remain in the Sena after learning of the conspiracy to kill me? Raj asked without mentioning Uddhav. He added that while he was in Sindhudurg, a rally was organized in Mumbai in which the slogan was “Go to Kankavli” instead of “Let’s go to Kankavli,” Rane’s hometown.
“At the Malvan Circuit House, I was briefed about a planned attack on me by Prasanna, the district superintendent of police of Sindhudurg, after which I left for Mumbai and confirmed the information given by Prasanna, which turned out to be correct.
Prior to my departure to Sindhudurg I had telephoned the state Director General of Police P.S. Pasricha and Home Minister R.R. Patil, and requested them to come to the district after a week. But, after that, I dared to enter Rane’s stronghold taking all risks for the benefit of Sena,” he said.
“When Prasanna informed me of the conspiracy, I returned to Mumbai and quit Sena. I know how much pain and anguish it meant to me to leave the Sena and the family,” Raj said.
While lavishing praise on Thackeray, the MNS leader bitterly criticized Uddhav. Though Raj’s revelation has created jitters in the state political arena, Sena leaders remained tight lipped and refused to comment on the allegations.
