Mumbai:Thackerey woos Gujaratis, North Indians

Mumbai, Jan 29: Shiv Sena Supremo Balasaheb Thackeray today tried to woo Gujratis and North Indians ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for February one.

In a joint rally, Mr Thackeray along with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, stressed the need for unity among Hindus irrespective of language and caste.

Mr Thackeray claimed that the Gujarati community in Mumbai had always favoured the Shiv Sena. So did the North Indians.

Earlier, Mr Modi criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for his ''dubious'' stand on the issue of Sardar Sarovar Dam, which was to provide maximum power to Maharashtra.

He alleged that the Central government was involved in minority appeasement politics. Mr Modi cited the abolition of Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and delay in the capital punishment of Mohammad Afzal Guru, the accused in the Parliament attack case.

Referring to Dara Singh, the accused in the murder of Graham Staines, Mr Modi asked if media could demand capital punishment for Singh, why not for Afzal Guru? He said both were criminals and they should be hanged.

Touching upon the issue of naxalites, Mr Modi said, ''Congress should not hold talks with those who hold arms.'' He said Asom was facing a similar situation and alleged that Congress had some ''understanding'' with ULFA for their ''own survival''.

Mr Modi said farmers were commiting suicides in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra but not in Gujarat. ''This was possible only through proper planning and development in Gujarat,'' he claimed.

UNI