I am not under house arrest: Bal Thackeray

Mumbai, Jan 19 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today scotched rumours about his being under 'house arrest' or under pressure of his son and party executive president Uddhav Thackeray, saying no one has the guts to do so.

In an interview to Shiv sena mouthpiece 'Saamna', Mr Thackeray said ''I am free to move and go outside and no one has the guts to keep me under house arrest. But I myself have stopped going out due to health reasons.'' Uddhav behaves with respect towards me, he added.

Mr Thackeray, who would turn 80 on January 23, also took on his estranged nephew Raj and Revenue minister Narayan Rane, who had criticised Uddhav for throwing the responsibility of campaigning for Brihanmumbai Municipal Elections on him.

''Did they feel anything while giving so much trouble to me at this age,'' Mr Thackeray questioned.

Mr Rane, who was in Shiv Sena, was chucked out by Mr Thackeray in July 2005 while Raj left the party in December in the same year.

Mr Thackeray said while Mr Rane was eying the Chief Minister's post, which he felt he would not get in Sena, Raj went on saying he was suffocating in Shiv Sena for the last 20 years.

Questioning his claim, Mr Thackeray said Raj himself should analyse, when Uddhav loved in active politics.

UNI