The day after, Sena does a turnaround

The day after, Sena does a turnaround
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, MARCH 21: Realising that it has gone a bit too far, the Shiv Sena today disowned an editorial in its mouthpiece, Saamna, which had demanded resignation of two PMO officials and said Sena chief Bal Thackeray was unhappy with its contents. It's the first time that the Sena has distanced itself from what its paper has said as Saamna editorial has always been considered Thackeray's opinion.

``The piece was written by Saamna co-editor Sanjay Raut and not by Thackeray who is not happy with the editorial,'' Sena's leader in Lok Sabha Anant Geete said at a BJP press briefing in the Capital. He said the piece reflected the views of Raut.

Saamna Executive Editor Raut said he was the author of the controversial editorial demanding removal of Mishra, Singh and Ranjan Bhattacharya. ``I don't disown that editorial. However, it was not discussed with Bal Thackeray, who is also the editor of the newspaper,'' Raut said.

In fact, Shiv Sena was the third outfit after RSS and Samata Party MPs, to demand resignation of Brajesh Mishra and N.K. Singh from the PMO. Interestingly, all of them later withdrew the demand.

``Wrong information is being circulated. Neither has he (Thackeray) demanded the resignation of Mishra or Singh, nor has he given any statement or interview in this regard,'' Geete said.

Meanwhile, there was confusion in the Shiv Sena over the stand taken by Geete. While a section of Sena leaders feel that Geete reacted in haste, another section feels that the editorial was very harsh. ``We feel that Geete should not have spoken on the platform of the BJP, particularly when the party's mouthpiece had strongly criticised the NDA for virtually shielding Mishra, Singh and Bhattacharya,'' a senior Sena leader said.

Senior Sena leader Udhav Thackeray said in Mumbai that Geete has issued a fresh clarification. ``Geete has said that the editorial has been authored by Raut and that it is not against the Atal Behari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government,'' Udhav said.

He declined to be drawn into the controversy over the dismissal demand. ``Our view is very clear. Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has demanded a high-level probe into the Tehelka video tapes controversy. In fact, he was the first politician to demand such an inquiry prompting the Prime Minister to announce a judicial probe. I must make it clear that we are not shirking our responsibility, particularly on the Saamna editorial,'' he said.

Udhav said under no circumstances, the Shiv Sena will withdraw its support to the NDA government. ``We cannot afford frequent elections, as it will be very costly affairs,'' added.