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The Rediff Interview/Bal Thackeray

'I hate these commissions, they can't understand the difference between judgment and recommendations'

Unfazed by his indictment by the Srikrishna Commission over his role in the communal riots that engulfed Bombay in December 1992 and January 1993, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was quick to label the report as "prejudiced" and "anti-Hindu". In an interview to his party newspaper Saamna,the Sena chief refuted the Commission's findings while asking, "How can I be indicted without giving me a chance to speak?"

Thackeray also criticised the Commission for painting the Sena as a villain, even while admitting that he had expected the report to be critical of Hindus. He also joked that tomorrow, if there is an accident somewhere or if the prices of foodgrains escalate, people will blame only him.

You had predicted that the Srikrishna Commission report will be biased...

Yes, I get such intuition. For instance, I had said that Indira Gandhi will be killed in 1980, while noted astrologer Jayantrao Salgaonkar said she would not be killed, at the most she will fall sick. But Indiraji was assassinated in 1984. It was my judgment that Rajiv Gandhi will be eliminated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. What happened? Finally the Tamil Tigers killed him!

What about Sonia Gandhi now?

No, we don't want it! Or else one more commission will have to be constituted...

What would you say now that Manohar Joshi has rejected the report?

He did the right thing. In his capacity as head of government he has taken a just decision. And yes, let me remind you that Manohar Joshi is the chief minister of Maharashtra, not of Pakistan or Bangladesh! I would go further and propose that there should be some limits on the amount of money spent on such commissions. I hate these commissions. They can't understand the difference between judgment and recommendations. For them recommendation means judgment.

It is indicated that the language used in Saamna flared communal hatred...

Look, we wrote the truth as it was. Circumstances at that time warranted it. And why don't you pay attention to what was written in the Urdu Times. Everybody was taking sides and I don't believe that Saamna's language aroused communal hatred. Saamna published the truth and the ground situation then as it were.

Who is responsible for the riots, according to you?

Go and ask Sharad Pawar and Sudhakarrao Naik. How can we accept charges levelled against us without concrete evidence? I constantly reiterate that communal riots are not affordable to the country and you keep calling me communal! Sounds intriguing!

Slogans like 'mandir wahi banayenge' were communal in nature...

The situation at that time warranted it. I'm also a stanch Hindu, was a Hindu and will be a Hindu! It was because of Sardar Patel that a temple was constructed at Somnath. If he were alive today, even Ram Mandir would have been constructed. If we do anything it is dubbed as an attack, when they do it, it is a reaction. What kind of justice is this? This is not fair!

What will the Shiv Sena do in the future?

It will remain as it is! Absolutely no changes.

Will you challenge the Srikrishna Commission report in the courts?

Even if this is report is completely prejudiced against us we don't feel it is important to challenge it in the courts.

The Rediff Interviews