Thackeray challenges Pawar to swap assets

Thane: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, 86, addressed a massive rally for Thursday's civic polls in Thane city, neighbouring Mumbai, where he lashed out at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.

In response to Pawar's allegations that the Shiv Sena is involved in a Rs400 billion (Dh29.73 billion) corruption scandal, Thackeray issued an open challenge to Pawar to swap assets with him.

"I will transfer my entire property to your name. You transfer your property to mine. I will have more assets after the exchange. I give you an open challenge," Thackeray said.

Thackeray also challenged Congress leader Narayan Rane for a similar swapping of assets.

While addressing thousands at the Thane ground, Thackeray claimed that his party was never against Muslims.

"My party members, especially women, had protected many Muslims during the 1992-93 riots. And those pictures were even published in newspapers. My party never discriminates when it comes to region, religion, caste or creed," Thackeray said.

Confident of victory

Thackeray also took pot shots at Maharashtra state Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who had said that the Shiv Sena leader could lose his prominence in state politics.

"If I will lose significance, then how can I attract so much crowd even today? Will Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar and Prithviraj Chavan ever be able to draw these masses?" he said.

Thackeray said that he was confident that the alliance between the Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Republican Party of India (Athawale) would win the forthcoming civic elections in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena supremo also said the Indian Constitution should be the book for administering the oath of office to people elected to public offices.

He said the courts should ban the use of religious texts for administering the oath. "Use Babasaheb's Constitution instead. The Shiv Sena has never discriminated against any caste or religion. We are not anti-Muslim. We have protected all those Muslims who love this country.

"The Dalits should work together with the Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Now that you have come into our fold, don't leave us," Thackeray told Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale, who was also present at the rally late on Saturday.