Sena stages walk-out in RS over Centre’s ceasefire offer

Sena stages walk-out in RS over Centre’s ceasefire offer
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, NOV 22: Close on the heels of warning against taking any decision on disinvestment without consulting the Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray today came down heavily on the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government for unilaterally suspending the combat operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan.

Simultaneously, all the four Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Nirupam, Adhik Shirodkar, Satish Pradhan and Pritish Nandi today staged a walkout in the Upper House to protest against the decision.

Talking to newsmen, Thackeary made it clear that such benevolent gestures will not help in tackling the long pending dispute in the troubled Kashmir valley.‘‘The centre has asked the military to stop all the operations in view of the holy month of Ramzan. No such consideration was shown when the militants killed a record number of Amarnath pilgrims. They did not bother to see if there were women or children. In addition, another 36 innocent persons were killed during the Holi festival,’’ he added.

Sanjay Nirupam said to protest against the unilateral decision, all the four members of the Shiv Sena today staged a walked out.