Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 10, 2008
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I_am_waiting_to_be_arrested_Bal_Thackeray_to_Kamat/articleshow/3694196.cms
Stating that Shiv Sena was ready to provide
the best lawyers to defend Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, arrested in connection
with Malegaon blast, Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday ridiculed Congress
MP Gurudas Kamat who has demanded his arrest for backing her.
"Whenever congressmen have feats of Muslim
appeasement, they dream of my arrest" Thackeray said in an editorial
in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna'.
Speaking at a function held here recently
to felicitate chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on his government completing
four years in office, Kamat had said Thackeray should be put in jail for supporting
the sadhvi.
"Even Deshmukh must have squirmed when
Kamat made this demand," the octogenarian Thackeray, whose son Uddhav
now virtually manages Sena affairs, said.
The blast case is being probed under pressure
and attempt is being made to brand people as 'Hindu terrorists', Thackeray,
who had last month demanded that troops be sent inside mosques to flush out
Islamic militants, said.
Stating that he had never been afraid of being
arrested, Thackeray asked the government to clarify whether he would be arrested
for supporting Hindus in 'Hindustan' or for thwarting danger to the Marathi
pride in Maharashtra.
Thackeray recalled when late Chief Minister
Vasantrao Naik had got him arrested and sent to Pune's Yerwada jail, there
was arson in Maharashtra and he had to appeal for peace.
"Is it not your simple calculation that
Hindutva forces would be crushed and your Muslim vote bank would be strengthened
if you arrest me in connection with the sadhvi case," Thackeray said.
