Thackeray takes classes in PR, conspiracy theory

NASHIK, FEB 27: It was a Shiv Sena on the move towards elections 2000, literally, at its two-day quot;mahashibirquot; organised here wi...

NASHIK, FEB 27: It was a Shiv Sena on the move towards elections 2000, literally, at its two-day quot;mahashibirquot; organised here with chief Bal Thackeray calling on party men to meet the Congress and the electorate head-on as each deserved.

Inaugurating the mahashibir in the morning, Thackeray and other top functionaries told Sainiks to tell the masses about the achievements of alliance government and, in the evening, bolstered the cause by warning the gathering about Congress hatching a conspiracy8217; with the help of social worker Anna Hazare.

Chief Minister Narayan Rane was there addressing party bearers, telling them to gear up for the polls. And along with the regular messages to the people like promising completion of developmental projects, he did something relevant to Sena8217;s pathetic image vis a vis writers 8212; he actually called on the noted poet-dramatist and recipient of Gnyanpeeth Award V V Shirdwarkar alias kusumagraj8216; on his 88th birthday. Election campaign in earnest, one wouldsay.

In the midst of explanations on all and sundry happenings in Rane8217;s raj like the shunting of bureaucrats etc, it was interesting to hear Thackeray go on with his Cong-Hazare theory; substantiating his fear, Thackeray said that Hazare was majorly taken to the Congress president. 8220;Do you Hazare have the moral right to level charge of corruption,8221; he asked and dared the social worker to come face to face with the charges.

He jumped on senior Congressman Sharad Pawar8217;s false propaganda8217; against the alliance government with another gem. The Congress-controlled banks are responsible for the suicides committed by farmers in Maharashtra since they pressurised them for non repayment of loans,8217; Thackeray seriously opined.

The forty-minute address, however, lacked the usual response he gets at his rallies. The Sena Chief thundered that the alliance government would continue its fight against the gangsters in Mumbai. 8220;I gave the order to shoot down the gangsters in encounters,8221; he said.

Thackerayalso expressed his anguish over the role of judiciary, were police officers have been taken to task. He also criticised the human right proposal for taking the cases of encounters to the courts.