Rebel Shiv Sainiks keep away from Maharashtra

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) The newly-formed Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena, established recently after a split in Shiv Sena, today decided against opening a state unit in Maharashtra -- the stronghold of Sainiks.

The new outfit announced names of 52 office bearers and working committee members assigned to look after Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. However, the party decided not to name anyone for Maharashtra, which is the Sena stronghold.

Rebel Shiv Sena president Jai Bhagwan Goyal said the diatribe against north-Indians by Shiv Sena and MNS chief Raj Thackeray was part of Pakistan's designs to destabilise India.

Lashing out at the Thackeray family, Mr Goyal said initially, Pakistan used the Khalistan issue and now, it was using the anti-North India triade to divide the country.

He said the Thackerays were attacking well-known personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan -- who have taken the country's name to a new height -- for petty gains.

Mr Goyal was associated with the Shiv Sena for the past 36 years.

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