Author:
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: September 27, 2002
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on
Thursday lashed out at the BJP led NDA government over its inability to
take stern stops against mounting terrorist attacks in the country and
threatened to pull out of the BJP-led NDA government, if it failed to take
any step now. Sounding tough, the Sena chief said that enough was enough.
Stating that it was the end of ones tolerance, Thackeray had this to say
for prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee "enough of talk about end of tolerance.
Deliver the goods, not words. We shall not sit quiet now".
Speaking to newsmen at his Matoshri
residence in Bandra, Thackeray thundered "this is the end of our tolerance.
The centre has always been saying we shall take stern steps. But they do
not seem to take any firm steps. It is not that for the sake of power we
shall not shamelessly occupy the chair. This repeated insult of the nation
we shall not sit and watch. We shall pull out of the government".
Lashing out at the NDA government,
of which his party is also a constituent, Thackeray remarked that R K Laxman's
cartoon today about Vajpayee saying we shall not tolerate it" is very apt.
Commenting upon the gruesome militant attack on the Swaminarayan Akshardham
temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, he said that it was shocking that the attack
should have taken place when the deities were closed for darshan. The Sena
chief added that after the attack he felt that as if our gods had gone
to sleep.
When asked as to what had been gained
by calling for a bandh, the Sena chief expressed helplessness. Thackeray
said "what can we do. They (Centre') does not give us weapons. The terrorist
can manage AK-47s, hand grenades. Everybody needs to show their unity and
sorrow for the Incident. There were some private vehicles running on the
roads. I might ask these people as to what urgent work had they to do that
they had to attend offices. Now what happens if some hot headed person,
may be a Shivsainik, throws a stone and smashes car windshields, what is
wrong. Can you not show your concern and national pride for one day and
stay at home with your wife and children".
Replying to queries over the Central
Government's reaction, the Sena chief remarked" the Central government
does read newspapers. They should be able to understand what stand to be
taken. We should be united first and show how close and united we are.
Instead they are showing prominent places of worship. Then go and show
addresses of our temples so that the terrorist can attack. Two militants
come and attack. It is steps he expects the Centre to take, Thackeray sarcastically
remarked "well the Centre has constantly been 'saying stern steps need
to be taken. But they do not do anything. We shall not sit in power and
shamelessly watch insult of the nation. We shall pull out of the government.
When asked as to what his next step would be, he refused to divulge it
adding that he would prefer to wait and watch to see what turn the politics
takes.
Asked what the next step should
be, whether he would talk to prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Sena
chief said "war .. well we have to ask Bush for that. It is a feeling all
over the country now. People have shown that they do not approve of these
incidents". Thackeray further stated that such incidents need to be condemned
first and unity needs to be established".
Replying to queries over Sena's
criticism of VHP's unilateral bandh call, Thackeray said that he did not
wish to talk on party levels. According to him what was important that
we all are Hindus -and if so why be separate in our actions.
When asked for his comments on terrorist
attacks on the Parliament, Amarnath Yatra and the recent Gandhinagar temple
attack, the Sena chief once again sarcastically remarked "one who wields
the lathi, owns the cow. Earlier, while we were not in power, our strength
was measured by the length of the morcha we used to take out. Now in power,
the force of power is different." Asked what his expectations were of the
government now, Thackeray remarked "flush out those Bangladeshi Muslims.
Search Masjids or if need be even temples, search them for any hidden weapons".
When asked what stern steps he wanted to moot, he said se a terrorist is
found in any locality impose a fine on the locality itself. This will force
the people to disclose the names of suspicious people in their locality
out of fear."
Replying to queries over the terrorist
infiltration, the Sena chief wondered as to how do the terrorist manage
to sneak in.
"The border along Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir (PoK) is not sealed, seal it why not. Why you should not wage a
war now. We should take action in PoK, it is after all our territory. It
cannot be called a war, we are taking back what is ours', remarked Thackeray.
Asked as to, what would be his last' option, Thackeray called upon the
Centre to take some stern steps at least now. Then we shall decide on the
next step. The Sena chief added the US never asks us for our permission.
They earl bomb Iraq, Taliban. Why force us? In February they say they will
launch attacks on Iraq. They have not asked us as to what we feel about
their decision."
Again when asked as to what was
achieved by the bandh call, the Sena chief stated that it showed that Hindutva
was united which can challenge the might of the terrorist. Thackeray further
remarked that the minorities need not treat themselves as minorities. Let
the nationalists among them come out and join hands and then see what miracle
takes place. Whenever, Muslims from here go to Pakistan, they are treated
as Kafirs. Asked whether he would exert pressure on the Central government
to take action, he expressed helplessness by arguing that his pressure
tactics seem to have no effect on the Centre.
