Thackeray says Azmi provoked attack

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray blamed Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi for the attack he (Azmi) suffered at the hands of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) MLAs on the first day of the legislative assembly session on Monday.

Writing in an editorial in Sena's mouthpiece, Saamna, he criticised the MNS for their violent protests and for creating a ruckus in the assembly but said Azmi himself was responsible because he took the oath in Hindi and not Marathi.

Insult

The proceedings of the assembly or parliament should be carried out as per rules and decorum and Azmi had insulted the people of Maharashtra by continuing to take the oath in Hindi even after the legislators came forward to protest, Thackeray said.

The Sena itself had in the past spoken out against the use of Hindi and English in the state legislature.

The editorial also alleged that Azmi had "fixed" the whole incident to gain "publicity" and that the Congress was involved in this.