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Sena-BJP tensions begin showing themselves

The widening rift between ruling coalition partners in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, and contradictory stands on major policy decisions, particularly on the upcoming Pakistani cricket team's tour of India, was evident at a meet-the-press in New Delhi yesterday.

Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, who belongs to Shiv Sena, and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde of the BJP stuck to their guns on various contentious issues such as the proposed Pakistan cricket tour of India, the singing of the Vande Mataram and the recitation of the Saraswati Vandana in schools.

''I would tender my resignation as the vice-president of Board of Control for Cricket in India as demanded by the alliance partner BJP, if the Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray desires so,'' said Joshi in reply to another question.

Thackeray is fond of cricket and was not against individual Pakistani cricketers, he said. But the Sena chief was against Pakistan's attitude regarding ''friendly relations'' between the two countries in the fields of culture, music and sports, Joshi said. The Pakistani cricketers would not be allowed to play a Test cricket match anywhere in the state, he reiterated.

Shiv Sena leaders, including he himself have high regard for the BJP's national leaders, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister L K Advani, he said in reply to a pointed question.

Munde also reiterated his party's stand and assured enough security for the Pakistani cricketers, since he was in charge of the home portfolio, if a match is staged in the state.

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