Sena opens door to outsiders8217;

MUMBAI, Aug 12: With elections round the corner, the Shiv Sena today sought to project a compassionate image by inducting some prominent ...

MUMBAI, Aug 12: With elections round the corner, the Shiv Sena today sought to project a compassionate image by inducting some prominent non-Marathi persons into its fold in the presence of former chief minister Manohar Joshi and party8217;s influential non-Marathi leader, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Nirupam. Among those who joined the party today included Punjabi film star Jeetendra Bharadwaj, Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Commission Shankar Kumar Das, and some personalities from Hindi literary circle.

The party, which had vowed at its inception to stop the influx of outsiders8217; into the metropolios, changed tack at its Pune convention of 1987 when Bal Thackeray said that the base of of the Sena will be widened to include all Hindus.

Predictably, Joshi attributed today8217;s induction to Thackeray8217;s Pune statement saying 8220;since then, we do not make any difference between Marathi and non-Marathi speaking persons.8221;

Joshi admitted that initially, his party was against the entry of migrants into thecity. However, in view of the constitutional problems, his party gave up that concept and instead, asked the Centre to grant special grants to tackle the ever increasing pressure on the civic amenities, Joshi remarked. 8220;We were not against entry of outsiders in Mumbai. We felt that there was a need to regulate them since with the existing funds and budgetary provisions, it was beyond the scope of the state government as well as the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to provide them basic amenities,8221; Joshi explained.

Nirupam too sought to portray his party as one with a national presence by emphasising that the Sena has set up shakhas

in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, New Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. 8220;In the ensuing elections, the party will be fielding some candidates in these states,8221; Nirupam, who is also the executive editor of the party mouthpiece Dopahar Ka Saamna, said.

When parried on the prospects of outsiders8217; getting Sena ticket, Nirupam said since no Hindi-speaking person from Maharashtra hasapproached the party for nomination in either the Lok Sabha or assembly elections, there was no question of refusing party candidature to them.

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Earlier Joshi dished out the election pitch by declining to admit that the Sena-BJP government failed in implementing the Vachan-Nama manifesto which was declared before the 1995 assembly elections.

8220;By and large, we have implemented the pre-poll promises. Even, the much publicised scheme to provide free houses to the 40 lakh slumdwellers has been implemented to some extent. Of course, there was inordinate delay, since we lost major time in amending the existing legislations and latter handling the series of litigations,8221; Joshi told media persons.

Joshi said now since the Sena-BJP government has drafted the guidelines for the purpose, it will not be difficult to provide houses to the slumdwellers in a time bound period.

Joshi justified his decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls despite severe strictures against him by the Bombay High Court in the landdereservation case involving his son-in-law. 8220;I have consulted my legal advisors. I do not think that it will be difficult for me to contest the Lok Sabha elections,8221; he said.