• It is widely believed that some of your distinguished Rajya Sabha members actually paid your party.

No, they never did. There might be certain things that they do outside my knowledge. But I throw an open challenge to anyone to prove that they have given me money.

• OK, I take your word on that. But you believe the people who went to Rajya Sabha from your party might have done something like that on their own?

No. You ask any of my MPs, in Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha. The man who is charging me with having taken money from them has, in fact, himself earned money on the Shiv Sena.

• Who’s that?

I don’t want to name him.

• Balasaheb is not known to mince words. So, say who...

There is no question of mincing (my words). It should be published. But I don’t want a controversy at this stage.

• Could that person be with you now?

No, he has left.

• Can it be Narayan Rane or Chaggan Bhujbal?

No, not Bhujbal.

• Then it has to be Rane.

(Laughs) I don’t want to give him any importance at this time.

• You are a cartoonist. When you wake up in the morning, what makes you laugh? Or cry?

Nothing makes me laugh or cry. The standard of journalism has gone down so much. The column writers make the most mischief.

... contd.