Raj jumps to Bal Thackeray's defence

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's estranged nephew Raj Thackeray rushed to his uncle's defence on Wednesday, lambasting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar for criticising the Sena patriarch.

"Whatever Ajit Pawar is saying against Balasaheb Thackeray is an attempt by the Pawars to divert attention from issues like the cooperative bank scam and their links with (2G scam-accused Shahid) Balwa," said Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.

"It is not appropriate for Ajit Pawar to criticise Balasaheb considering his age," the MNS chief said.

He was responding to criticism by senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar that Bal Thackeray had not contributed much to society.

"They are sore over the public support I am getting, that is why they are playing such games," Raj Thackeray said, when asked about Ajit Pawar rubbishing his remarks opposing renaming Dadar railway station as Chaityabhoomi.

Raj Thackeray rejected the suggestion made by Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale to remove from his party's flag the colour blue representing the Dalit movement. Athawale made the suggestion as Raj Thackeray was opposed to renaming Dadar station as Chaityabhoomi, where Dalits congregate annually.

Raj said Athawale was acting like a Shiv Sena spokesperson because he had got a four-storey house near the Sena chief's residence in suburban Bandra.

"I don't know what is Athawale's occupation and on what basis he has got this property," Raj said.

Meanwhile in Pune, Shiv Sena activists burnt the effigy of Ajit Pawar to protest his comments.

Pawar, at a rally at Ahmednagar, alleged that the Sena chief had exploited the name of Maratha king Shivaji to garner support of youths in Maharashtra.

Sena workers who raised anti-Pawar slogans burned his effigy at the centrally located mandai area in the city .