Sena to 'empower' women on Thackeray's birth anniversary

, Jan 11: The

has decided to distribute knives among

as a gift on Jan 23, the 88th birth anniversary of late party patriarch

. The founder of the party passed away following a prolonged illness in Mumbai on Nov 17, 2012.

Party sources said Chinese knives, that can be folded and kept in small purses, will be given to women during events scheduled for Jan 23. Currently, only the south Mumbai wing of the party has made the plan and other wings may follow soon.

Highly-placed sources in the Sena's south Mumbai wing said the move marked an initiative to empower the women for the government had failed to ensure their safety. It was also said that the party would take care if any legal move was made against any woman for using the knife in self-defence.

OneIndia News