Shiv Sena still intact in North India, says chief co-ordinator

New Delhi, Mar 26 (UNI) Shiv Sena in North India was still intact and had not been split, said a senior Sainik shortly after North India Shiv Sena president Jai Bhagwan Goyal announced that entire north Indian units have split following attacks on Hindi-speaking people in Maharashtra.

Shiv Sena's north India chief co-ordinator Sandip Kulkarni claimed that Goyal was removed as the North India president in July, 2007 following charges of corrupt practices. ''In fact he was made incharge of Punjab and Bihar,'' Kulkarni said, in a statement issued here.

''The announcement of split is part of his plan to divert attention from his misdeeds...Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has already made it clear that national interest was of supreme importance,'' he said adding that the party would continue to grow in North India.

In a major blow to the Shiv Sena, the entire North India units, including in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, split from the main party over the attacks on North Indian and Hindi-speaking people by Sena and MNS members in Maharashtra.

''The Shiv Sena has become a Private Ltd company of some people.... it has limited itself to Maharashtra alone deviating from the main nationalist policies of the party. Balasaheb Thackeray seems to be bogged down by some thing he is toeing Uddhav's line only,'' Mr Bhagwan Goyal had told a news conference here.

UNI NAB VD RK1835