Won8217;t give up Hindutva, asserts Thackeray

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Making light of his disenfranchisement for seeking votes on the basis of religion, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today a...

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Making light of his disenfranchisement for seeking votes on the basis of religion, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today announced that he will not give up the Hindutva plank.

8220;Under no circumstance, will we give up the Hindutva plank. However, in view of the judicial orders and also owing to the observations of the Election Commission, we will adhere to the Representation of People Act as well as the model code of conduct. Our campaign will be within the framework of the constitution and existing legislations,8221; Thackeray told media persons.

On the decision of the Election Commission to debar him from contesting the election, Thackeray said though he was not disturbed since he has decided not to contest any election, he was definitely shocked.

8220;This is dangerous in a democratic set up. I am sure the electorate will vote in favour of the alliance to express its anger against the decision of the Election Commission,8221; he said.

The Sena chief said it was unfortunate that while Shiv Sena was being hauled up for championing the cause of Hinduism, no action was being been taken against Congress leader Arjun Singh and Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar who are wooing Muslims unabashedly.

8220;I feel the judiciary as well as the Election Commission should take serious cognisance of the statements made by these leaders. They are directly appealing to the members of the minority communities. Moreover, a section of the political leaders have floated parties in the name of the one or the other minority community. Is is tolerable. Does it not violate the Representation of People Act or the model code of conduct,8221; Thackeray asked.

Thackeray pointed out that on the eve of the simultaneous polls, while Urdu is being promoted, a separate financial corporation is being set up for the minorities in the name of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and there were reports of sending more members of the minority communities to the parliament. 8220;I feel that such announcements directly violate the code of conduct. The Election Commission should take serious note of this,8221; he said.

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Thackeray said his party has already paid a heavy price for campaigning in the name of Hindutva, since the election of four of the Sena legislators was set aside by the High Court on the ground that they violated the Representation of People Act as well as the code of conduct.

On the agitation launched by Sena workers against the decision of the Election Commission, Thackeray said, it was a spontaneous one but now he has asked them to abandon it with immediate effect.

On the controversial Enron power project, Thackeray said though BJP leader Gopinath Munde had specifically stated that the same would be dumped into the Arabian sea, it was his personal decision to revive the multicrore project in the larger interest of the country. 8220;Had Enron withdrawn from the project, the United States might have imposed economic sanctions leading to a severe financial crisis8221;, he claimed. Thackeray however declined to comment on the tariff structure, saying, these questions should be posed to Munde, who is also the Energy Minister.

Referring to charges of corruption in the deal, Thackeray said in a lighter vein, 8220;In fact, I asked Rebecca Mark of Enron to pay me as much as the company allegedly paid to Sharad Pawar8221;. Asked what was her response, Thackeray quipped, 8220;she just smiled8221;.