The Hindu : National : Sonia, Pawar under attack at launch of BJP-Sena campaign in Mumbai

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Sonia, Pawar under attack at launch of BJP-Sena campaign in Mumbai

Meena Menon

Advani calls on the people to vote out the Congress

— Photo: Vivek Bendre

JOINT RALLY: BJP leader L.K. Advani, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray with Manohar Joshi (left) and BJP leader Gopinath Munde at a joint election rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday.

MUMBAI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar were under attack at a joint rally of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday at Shivaji Park.

BJP leader L.K. Advani launched the saffron alliances election campaign by breaking a coconut in front a large gathering, to the explosion of crackers and some rocking music. While Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his father attacked the foreign origin of Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Pawar was in the line of fire for targeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr. Advani called on people to vote out the Congress to ensure that attacks like the one on November 26 in Mumbai did not take place. He said the prevailing mood was in favour of the Sena-BJP and all six candidates would win in Mumbai. “Even before November terror strike, the Prime Minister, Home Minister and National Security Adviser, all of them had said in Parliament and outside that the next attack will be from the sea. If this had happened in some other country, things would be different. What did they do with this advice? What steps were taken?” he asked.

Till now it was 9/11 that was considered as the worst terror strike. The U.S. government set up a commission of inquiry to hold the guilty responsible, apart from making recommendations. This led to the Homeland Security Department. Mr. Advani asked why no commission of inquiry was set up into 26/11. He called for a detailed investigation and said those guilty of lapses must be punished. There would be some miraculous results from Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, he predicted.

Mr. Advani also pointed out that this would be the first election in which Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Sena chief Bal Thackeray could not campaign. It was a lacuna and a challenge but with their blessings, some amazing results could be predicted.

While a large crowd had gathered, Shivaji Park came to life at the end when a recorded speech of Mr. Bal Thackeray was shown on the specially set up screens. Mr. Thackeray too attacked Mr. Pawar and Prime Ministers like Deve Gowda, who he said slept all the time. “I have no expectations now. I am happy being Sena pramukh. I am growing older and my body is weakening.” He also spoke about the hanging of Afzal Guru which was pending and the issue of ‘Kasab’s lawyer. He attacked Ms. Gandhi and said the people must vote the Congress out of power on the grounds of self respect. He said he founded the Sena on the issue of the Marathi ‘manoos’ and did not need to be taught anything on that score. Again Mr. Pawar was targeted for saying that no blast took place after the Malegaon accused were arrested.

Mr. Uddhav Thackeray said there was a lot of worry that the Sena-BJP had no star campaigner. “I want to tell everyone I have the Sena pramukh’s blessings. Even if we don’t have stars it’s okay.” The issues were the same, security, Afzal Guru’s hanging, ‘Kasab,’ farmers’ suicides, unemployment and power shortage. He attacked Manmohan Singh for saying Mr. Advani’s only achievement wasdestroying the Babri Masjid. “Is this not a violation of the model code of conduct? There is no proof that Babri Masjid was demolished and the case is still in court. What is Manmohan’s achievement — protecting Afzal Guru?” When the government was yet to hang Guru, what will they do with ‘Kasab,’ asked Mr. Thackeray. While Mr. Pawar spoke of Mr. Modi’s hands being blood stained, the death of so many farmers lay at his door.

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