Pak "ban": Thackeray chose practical option

Subsequently, Thackeray even declared he would not hesitate to impose a ban on the entry of Pakistan’s cricket team, to condemn the assassination of innocent Hindus’ in the Kashmir Valley.

However, there was confusion over Thackeray’s statement. Chief Minister ManoharJoshi did not take serious note of Thackeray’s threat on the ground that neither Mumbai nor any place in Maharashtra were venues for the matches. Joshi’s statement implied that the ban was only for Mumbai and Maharashtra, and would not have an adverse impact on the Pakistan team’s tour. However, senior Sena leaders in Maharashtra were taken aback when party workers outside the State contemplated a ban for the entire country.

Sena workers’ even began implementing Thackeray’s directive in right earnest. Ironically, many of those who demonstrated against the tour in New Delhi or Chennai were not remotely associated with the Shiv Sena or its activities.

A senior Shiv Sena leader pointed out, “No doubt, Thackeray’s call evoked an unexpected response in New Delhi and Chennai. But the demonstrators were certainly not Shiv Sainiks. Since our activities are limited only to Mumbai and Maharashtra, it was clear that fence-sitters were taking advantage of the situation. Simultaneously, it also became clear thatonce the agitation reaches the final stage, Thackeray will have no control over it, particularly outside Maharashtra, since there is no well-galvanised machinery for the purpose”.

The Sena leader said Jai Bhagwan Goel was not known to Bal Thackeray till he took the lead in damaging the pitch at the Firozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi. “Goel had approached a section of Sena MPs for seeking a nomination for the Delhi Assembly elections. Till that time, Goel was not known to any of the senior functionaries of the Shiv Sena,” the leader observed.

Under the circumstances, Thackeray had no alternative but find a via media to revoke the ban honourably. While the Shiv Sena was busy looking for ways to do this, activists from other parts of the country were lending an impetus to the agitation, prompting Home Minister L K Advani as well as Information and Broadcasting Minister to warn Thackeray of stern measures if the agitation was not called off. Typically, Thackeray immediately obliged Advani and Mahajan,following Chief Minister Manohar Joshi’s intervention.

Thackeray’s decision has upset party workers at the grassroot level, while the BJP is jubilant. “We feel that it was a major victory for the BJP, since the prestige of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was involved in holding the matches,” a senior BJP Minister said.