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Security concerns cut Sena chief's
participation in B-day celebrations

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who is facing a threat to his life from Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants, made a brief appearance at his birthday celebrations at Shanmukhnand Hall in central Bombay Tuesday evening.

The Sena chief, who was scheduled to arrive at 8 pm, reached the venue at 9.45 and left 15 minutes later after delivering a brief speech.

"I have been told to be careful by the Bombay police commissioner till January 26. There is a threat to my life from anti national forces," Thackeray said in his speech.

"I called him thrice this morning to ask whether I can attend this programme. He asked me to keep my engagement as short as possible. It is a shame that after 53 years of independence, we still have to roam around with heavy security," he said.

A few months back the Thane police had arrested some Lashkar militants on a mission to assassinate Thackeray.

Coming down heavily on Pakistan, Thackeray said: "Why can't India create a Kashmir-like situation in Pakistan. Let us (Sena) be given a chance and we will do what they are doing to us. We also have our hit-lists and suicide squads."

He warned that one day he would take his revenge on Pakistan. "It's a tiny country. A press of button is enough to wipe it off the face of earth," he said.

Among other senior Sena leaders present on the dais were: Union Minister Manohar Joshi, the leader of opposition in Maharashtra legislative assembly Narayan Rane and Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of Saamna.

Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, son and the nephew respectively of the Sena chief, were also present.

Laxmikant Berde, Pradeep Patwardhan, Prabhakar Panshikar, Macchinder Kambli and Sudesh Bhosale entertained the audience while they waited for the Sena chief to arrive.

Earlier, Thackeray spent the day meeting important Sena leaders and visitors at his Bandra residence. The usual fanfare associated with his birthdays was, however, missing this year.

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