Thackeray fumes as ISI threat dampens his birthday bash

Thackeray fumes as ISI threat dampens his birthday bash
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

MUMBAI, JAN 23: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today marked his 74th birthday with a low-key celebration, very unlike the public functions of the past, due to the threat to his life from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence-backed militant outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba.

Since the police had particularly advised him to keep off crowds, Thackeray chose an unknown destination to celebrate the day along with his family members.

In a clear sign of how seriously he perceived the security threat, Thackeray had on Sunday even appealed to his party workers to refrain from queuing up at his Matoshree residence in view of fresh threats to his life. ``I don't want you to face inconvenience owing to security arrangements at my residence,'' Thackeray said in a statement to his pary workers.

Later, speaking at the only function that he attended in the city, he said that Pakistan was responsible for the predicament which prevented him from meeting his Sainiks, adding in his characteristically dramatic manner that he would avenge this.

After a plot to eliminate him was unearthed by the police last month, the police had stepped up security measures around Thackeray's residence. Besides the State Government, even the Centre is now monitoring security arrangements around the members of the Thackeray family.

On the occasion of Thackeray's birthday, gun-toting personnel today took position outside Matoshree. Huge barricades were also erected outside the house to prevent unidentified persons from entering the premises.

A donation box was placed in front of the Sena Bhavan at Dadar for party workers to drop their contributions. The amount is to be donated to a trust working for retired soldiers.

Several cultural programmes were also organised by the Sena shakhas today. Huge cut-outs and banners of the saffron-clad Thackeray were put up at some of the promiment points in the city.

At Shanmukananda Hall in Matunga where Thackeray was felicitated by the party workers, a 74-feet-high cutout to mark his 74th birthday was seen towering over the prominent city landmark.