Thackeray criticises Kalam again

He says Kalam has not kept the dignity of his chair by delaying decision on Afzal, reports Sanjeev Shivadekar.

Back to his vitriolic ways after his party's comeback in civic polls, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday continued his tirade against President APJ Abdul Kalam over the delay in the decision on Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's hanging.

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"The president has not maintained the dignity of his chair. Has it happened so far that a clemency petition over a Supreme Court's order has been left undecided for such a long period," Thackerays said while talking to the media a day after Sena's victory in civic polls.

Thackeray also sought to justify his tirade against Kalam in an election rally in Thane on January 29 over the issue. "We voted him as President and were never against him, but is Kalam behaviour is in keeping with the position of the President? The answer is no," he said.

A petition seeking direction to the Centre to take legal action against Thackeray for comments against the president is pending with the Delhi High Court. When asked whether he stood by his his remarks against Kalam, Thackeray shot back, "I stand by words."

The petition has been filed by an organisation named Muslim Yuva Atankvad Virodhi Samiti through their counsel Nawal Kishore Jha, seeking the court's direction to the home ministry to initiate legal action against Thackeray.

Various political parties in the state except Sena's alliance partner, BJP, have already criticised Thackeray for his remarks.