Thackeray rejects PM’s request to revoke ban’ on Pak tour

“His plea was that since the relations between India and Pakistan are improving, I should revoke my decision on the entry of the Pakistan cricket team’s tour to India,” Thackeray said in an interview to The Indian Express.

However, “I made it clear to the prime minister that it will not be possible for me to withdraw the decision,” the Sena chief added. “My views on Pakistan are very clear and I will not allow its cricket team to play in any part of India.”

Thackeray said he had reminded Vajpayee that at a juncture when Pakistan and its intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), had stepped up their activities in India, particularly in the Kashmir valley, it would be “highly improper” for him to withdraw his directive to his Sainiks.

“Dono deshon ke beech sambandh sudhar rahe hain aur isiliye apko apne nirnay par phirse vichar karna chahiye,” the prime minister told Thackeray at which the Sena chief reminded him of the “murder of a dozen Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir” on Tuesday.

Thackeray said it was “difficult” for him to accept Vajpayee’s argument on Indo-Pak relations.

He declined to disclose further details of his conversation with the prime minister.

This is the first time Vajpayee had a one-to-one conversation with Thackeray since the row over the Pakistani cricket team’s visit erupted.

The prime minister had earlier tried to get in touch with Thackeray using Independent MP Suresh Kalmadi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi as go-betweens.

But the Sena chief had refused to play ball, thereby registering his protest against the arrest of Sena workers in New Delhi for having dug up the cricket pitch on the Ferozeshah Kotla grounds.

He said it was “unfortunate” that his directive to his party workers to thwart an Indo-Pak match was being given “political colour by a section of political parties.”

“When my Sainiks are displaying courage and patriotism, with national interest in mind, an ugly colour is given to their actions. On the one hand, we say relations are being improved, and on the other, not just my effigies, the Indian tricolour is also being burnt in Pakistan,” Thackeray remarked.

He said he was being condemned all over the country, and abroad, on the grounds that he lacked the spirit of sportsmanship. But the same people, he added, maintained a discreet silence when the South African team was banned on racial grounds. “That was acceptable, but now, when I am fighting for a national cause, the same people are questioning my attitude.”

When asked if the prime minister had offered a cabinet berth for a Shiv Sena nominee, Thackeray declined to comment. “I am not bothered about cabinet berths for the Sena,” he said. “Even in the past, we have never staked claim to a cabinet berth,” he said.

However, The Indian Express has learnt from a senior Sena leader that Vajpayee reportedly asked Thackeray to recommend one person for inclusion in the proposed cabinet expansion on January 15. The Sena leader said that it would, in all probability, be erstwhile Congress MP Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil, elected on a Shiv Sena ticket from Ahmednagar. Patil’s son, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil is state Agriculture Minister.

The issue was one involving “national security and national interest”, Thackeray insisted, referring to “fresh efforts” by the ISI and Pakistan to “destabilise India.”

“Despite the fact Pakistan is all set to destroy our nation, we still want to play cricket with them. This is unacceptable. We not tolerate such a situation. We must take all possible steps to thwart the proposed tour of Pakistan’s cricket team,” he concluded.