Now, Thackeray says he did not mean it

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has changed his stand on his recent comment that the Marathi manoos had stabbed him in the back saying that he did not mean all Maharashtrians but only those who had quit the Sena, reports HT Correspondent.

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has changed his stand on his recent comment that the Marathi manoos had stabbed him in the back saying that he did not mean all Maharashtrians but only those who had quit the Sena.

HT Image

Thackeray, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece Saamna on Monday, said, “The Sena has been backstabbed by its own men like (Chhagan) Bhujbal, (Narayan) Rane and our own Thackeray (Raj Thackeray) who made their careers due to the Sena and then walked out.”

He said that the Sena was never after power. “I have strived for the Marathi manoos for 44 years,” he said. “Do I not have the right to pull you up as a father does to his children?”

The 84-year-old said his party had never used the Marathi manoos for vote bank politics. “We have never struggled for power,” he said. “There are enough Pawars, Patils, Deshmukhs and Bhujbals for this.”

Thackeray criticised the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena saying the party seemed to have changed its stand on chhat puja after winning a few seats.

“Chhat puja was celebrated with more fervour this time despite some parties saying that they will not allow it.” said. “They have changed their stand after winning a few seats.”