Thackeray denies Shiv Sena's links with Naxals

Mumbai, Aug 11 (UNI) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today denied that his party has any links with Naxalites.

He made this clarification in the editorial, 'Who is the father of Naxalites'? (Naxalwadache baap kon?), in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamna', following reports in a section of the media about narco test, conducted last year on susupected Naxalite Arun Perreira, who alleged that Shiv Sena and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were aiding them.

He said had he got that amount of money, he would have preferred to distribute it among the farmers of Vidarbha.

The editorial linked the Naxalite movement to the Communists, stating the former have their proximity to the latter, but they firmly believe in armed struggle.

Mr Thackeray recalled how a group of Communists, led by Charu Muzumdar and Kanu Sanyal, walked out of the West Bengal government and started an armed struggle against the landlords of tea gardens at Naxalwadi village near Darjeeling in 1967 and gave them the name 'Naxalites'.

He said even Shiv Sena was born 40 years ago but always endorsed the Hindutva cause and other social issues in Maharashtra and the country.

Admitting that poverty was the primary reason behind the people resorting to armed struggle, the editorial said it would be an honour if the Naxals use the weapons to protect the country from the Islamic terrorism.

Mr Thackeray said apart from the Islamic terrorism, 'Maoism' was also penetrating into the country. It has claimed lives of eminent politicians including a student wing leader of Shiv Sena.

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