Author: Political Bureau
Publication: The Economic Times
Date: December 26, 2007
Sharad Pawar should take care of Delhi the
way he looks after Maharashtra, feels Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. This
was the message the Sena patriarch is believed to have conveyed to the NCP
chief last weekend. Breaking mum on his much-talked about tête-à-tête
with NCP strongman Sharad Pawar, the Sena chief, in an edit piece in his party's
mouthpiece Samna, claimed that there was nothing political about the meeting
that went on close to two hours.
"We are polls apart when it comes to
ideological convictions. I am wedded to Hindutva as a political ideology and
if Mr Pawar is to be believed, he is a staunch secularist!", noted the
Sena chief in his sarcastic style. "Sharadbabu is my friend for the last
four decades. He came to inquire about my health. We had a hearty talk which
had nothing to do with politics," Mr Thackeray said.
Recalling his vitriolic verbal assaults on
Maratha strongman, the Sena's ageing patriarch said no one has lambasted Mr
Pawar in a manner he has done. "But our personal bond of friendship always
remained intact." He stated that "Pawar is a heavyweight central
minister and may even be a future prime minister for some people, but for
me, he is only Sharadbabu with whom I share wide variety interests."
Even while talking about his friendship, the
Sena chief has not spared Mr Pawar in today's edit. "I've always believed
in social causes and never indulged in political machinations to capture power.
Sharadbabu belongs to the category of politicians for whom power is oxygen.
He is an expert when it comes to ventilating and supplying this oxygen of
power," he said. "Politics is his oxygen and hobby. But whenever
I subjected Sharadbabu to scathing attacks, I never bore any ill will or malice."
The Sena chief made it clear that whatever transpired in the meeting will
remain with them.
The Sena chief also dismissed reports in the
media that the meeting had the backdrop and connotation of the recent outburst
of Narayan Rane against chief minister. Mr Rane is perceived to be a common
enemy of both the Sena and the NCP. "I am not concerned with the 'tamasha'
in the Congress. It is Margaret Alva's headache," Mr Thackeray said.
