Thackeray advises Pawar to take care of health

Mumbai, Nov 18 (UNI) In a goodwill gesture, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has advised the Nationalist Congress Party chief and Union Agriculture Minister to take care of his health while noting that not just Maharashtra but the entire country needs the latter's services.

Mr Thackeray's advice comes in the wake of 65-year-old Mr Sharad Pawar recently undergoing angioplasty at the Escorts Hospital in New Delhi.

Mr Thackeray, who himself will be turning 80 on January 23, advised his ''good old friend Sharadbabu'' to take care of his health and avoid extensive touring.

Mr Thackeray had written a letter to Mr Pawar inquiring after his health.

The letter was delivered to Mr Pawar by Sena MP and ''Saamana'' executive editor Sanjay Raut on behalf of Mr Thackeray, according to a report appearing in today's ''Saamana''.

''Sharadbabu, you are handling an important portfolio, that of agriculture, at the Centre, and Maharashtra, as well as the country, needs you,'' the letter read. Mr Thackeray's Shiv Sena, incidentally, had come to power jointly with the BJP in Maharashtra by defeating Congress at a time when Mr Pawar was the chief minister.

UNI JM MAZ PB BS1944