Sena chief joins Pawar in criticising electronic media

Mumbai, Nov 4 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar today received support from Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray as the latter joined his old friend in denouncing the electronic media for defaming Maharashtra's image all over the country.

In an editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamna', Mr Thackeray endorsed Mr Pawar's statement that he (Pawar) was not interested in talking to the electronic media against the backdrop of the defamation of Maharashtra by the channels.

The Sena leader said it seems that a strong competition is going on among the channels over tarnishing the image of Maharashtra. The north is jealous of the state and its repercussions could be seen on the news channels, he wrote.

Recalling the turbulent days that the state witnessed during the 'Samyukta Maharashtra' agitation, Mr Thackeray said the Congress had tried to vilify the state's image. However, Maharashtra forced them to retract their statements.

He said now the media is doing the same thing by going with new kids (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray), which will ultimately affect the state's industrial sector.

Maharashtra has its own issues, including jobs for the local people, and his party always took up these issues but the Sena's agitations were never described as anti-national.

Giving a word of advice to the electronic media, Mr Thackeray, himself a versatile cartoonist, cautioned the electronic media to restrain itself from defaming Maharashtra.

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