Bal Thackeray lambasts govt over plight of working class

Mumbai, May 1 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today lambasted the Congress-led Democratic Front (DF) government in Maharashtra for the ''sorry plight of the working class'' and asserted his party was committed to their welfare.

Mr Thackeray alleged that the state government had destroyed the labour sector in the state, saying malls had sprung up in place of textile mills in the city, resulting in loss of livelihood of the families of mill workers.

In a statement, carried by the party mouthpiece 'Saamna' to mark 47th anniversary of creation of Maharashtra state and 'May day', he said children of mill workers were not given jobs in the malls, which had come up on mill lands.

The state government was keeping quiet on the attitude of mall owners towards the sons of the soil, Mr Thackeray alleged.

''If the mall owners continue with their adamant stand, they will have to face the Shiv Sena,'' he warned.

UNI