Raj defies gag, takes a dig at Mah govt

Mumbai, Oct 28 (UNI) Violating the police gag order preventing him from speaking to the media and making provocative speeches, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has said the state government's decision to withdraw his Z-plus security was 'foolish'', since his life was under threat.

In an interview to a Marathi daily, Mr Thackeray said the state government was indulging in ''revenge politics''.

''It has been proved that there is a threat to my life after the bus-shootout incident, involving a youth from Patna. Even the notorious criminal Bunty Pandey has issued threats,'' he told the newspaper.

''Though I had never asked for police security, it was given to me in 1992 on grounds that there were threats to my life, but now it has been withdrawn without citing any reason,'' Mr Thackeray said.

''The decision on security is made by a high-level committee of the state government,'' the MNS Chief added.

It may be recalled that police had on October 21 asked him not to give any interviews to the media and had forbidden him from addressing rallies for two months.

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