MUMBAI, 13 March 2008 — Dressed in bright saffron-colored salwar kameez , the president of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission and United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion Asma Jehangir met Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray at his residence here late Tuesday.
Jehangir’s choice of color was not lost on Thackeray as the lawyer and activist’s move proved an ice-breaker even before the two could begin deliberations. Sena’s color is saffron.
Thackeray, exuding warmth and charm while playing the doting host to Jehangir in the 50-minute meeting, drove home the point that he is often misunderstood and facts deliberately distorted during the cordial debate where both put their points of view across forcefully.
Sanjay Raut, the Sena Member of Parliament, who was present at the meeting, said Jehangir had sought the meeting as she wanted to discuss issues related to Shiv Sena.
A shrewd lawyer, Jehangir cross examined Thackeray and sought honest answers from him as to why Sena’s politics, at times, inconvenienced people who found themselves caught in a political crossfire.
Thackeray’s blunt replies often caught Jehangir by surprise.
When asked what was discussed in the meeting, Jehangir said, “We discussed the Sena manifesto and its philosophy. I sought his views on religion. It was an exchange of ideas on various subjects. During the course of the discussion Thackeray asserted that he never provoked anybody, and never supported violence, but only reacted when provoked by others,” she said.
It was an ideal stage for Thackeray and Jehangir to engage in freewheeling, no-holds barred debate on sensitive issues, ranging from the “Marathi person” issue, Muslims, dictatorship and democracy.
Uddhav Thackeray, the working president of Shiv Sena, who was not in Mumbai, and senior party leaders, busy at the state budget session, were not present at the meeting.
Jehangir had earlier met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. She has also interacted with several minority NGOs and the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission members in Mumbai. She is expected to meet Bollywood personalities next and will travel to her next stop — Kerala tomorrow.
Jehangir’s travel plan and meetings have been approved by the federal government. Jehangir’s aide said that the activist felt it necessary to meet Thackeray because Sena’s ideology of Hindutva is based on religion and his cadres had taken active part in communal riots in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.
