MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray praised Varun Gandhi and pledged to support him saying Varun had done “no wrong.” In an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna published yesterday, Thackeray said “Varun is as bold as his father Sanjay Gandhi and is concerned about the Hindus and Hindu interests. Varun has spoken the truth,” and asked whether he (Varun) did not have the right to speak the truth.
Thackeray criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party and said the party should not desert him because of his statement, but should defend him instead. On the demand of senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain that Varun should apologize for his statement against the Muslim community, Thackeray said Nawaz was walking on the razor’s edge.
“We love Varun. He has our blessings. He has expressed his inner thoughts. If he has stood up for Hindus, then there is no reason whatsoever to oppose him, because others are also playing their respective religious cards for political purpose, “ Thackeray said. “There is also no reason for the BJP to become restless over the remarks made by Varun. The BJP leaders have no reason to fear that anti-Muslim remarks made by Varun would make the Muslims angry. If we have to fight the terrorists, then we have to be courageous. And Varun was doing the same,” Thackeray added.
“ When I hear the speech of Varun, the memories of his late father Sanjay come fresh into my mind, as he too used to speak his mind in strong language. At the moment don’t make Varun stand in the criminal docket,” Thackeray concluded.
