Remove Islamic tumour within India, says Sena chief

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who turned 83 today has said the elements who were waging a battle against Islamic fundamentalism within the
country, were being branded as Hindu terrorists by the rulers.

The oblique reference to the charge-sheeting of 11 Malegaon blast accused under MCOCA, came in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna', in which he said the metropolis, despite a semblance of normalcy was still reeling under the horrific Mumbai
terror attacks that killed over 200 citizens.

"The blood is yet to dry up. Share market is functional. The Taj has opened. But the common Mumbaikar continues to be in the grip of a fear complex as he goes through his daily chores in local trains, crowded bazaars and buses," he said.

Thackeray accused Congress of its "appeasement" of Muslims and vote bank politics and said, "Pakistan today is not afraid of India because the fanatic Muslims within our country is the real strength of the hostile neighbour."

"Instead of removing the Islamic tumor that was growing in India's stomach, the present rulers were making it more malignant," he said.

Touching upon the fresh flare-up on Maharashtra- Karnataka boundary dispute, Thackeray said, "I have given 42 years of my life to this struggle and will continue to fight for the rights of Marathi speaking population in Belgaum for the rest of my life."

Thackeray alleged that Marathi population in the border districts of Karnataka who were wanting 'merger' with Maharashtra was being subjected to excesses and atrocities and the Ashok Chavan-led Congress government in the state was a "mute spectator" to it.

Taking a dig at NCP president Sharad Pawar, Thackeray said, "The strong Marathas enjoying power in Centre and the state government are more concerned about their chair as against the interests of Maharashtra"

Belgaum and Malegaon have become the graveyard of Maharashtra's self-respect, he remarked in the editorial.