ID :
31898
Mon, 11/24/2008 - 09:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31898
The shortlink copeid
Raj meets uncle Thackeray, says politics not discussed
Mumbai, Nov 23 (PTI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray Sunday met his uncle and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for the first time since they parted ways over two years ago, sparking speculation about a possible patch-up but the two sides maintained that politics was not discussed.
"We spoke on topics other than politics," Raj, who has
been limelight with his 'Marathi pride' agenda which was
earlier championed by the Sena, said after meeting the
84-year-old patriarch at his residence Matoshree in Bandra.
MNS sources said that Raj met Thackeray to enquire
about his health.
The Shiv Sena too dubbed the meeting as one "between a
nephew and an uncle" and denied that it had any political
agenda.
"The meeting was between a nephew and an uncle and
there was no political agenda and no political discussion,"
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjya Rout told PTI.
Uddhav, differences with whom forced Raj to quit Sena
and float Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), was present at the
20-minute meeting.
"There will be an impact within cadres of Sena and MNS
over the uncle-nephew meeting", MNS sources said. Raj, who
resembles Thackeray and even speaks like him, was tipped to
succeed him until the Sena supremo chose to hand over party
reins to his son Uddhav.
The last time Raj met the senior Thackeray was on
January 23, 2006, the Sena chief's birthday. Asked about
Thackeray's health, Raj said he was fine.
Raj said he got a call from his uncle in the morning
Sunday asking him to send some old books to Matoshree. "I
offered to carry the books," Raj said.
"I am happy at meeting him after such a long gap. We
spoke about cartoons, old memories", Raj, who like his uncle
is a cartoonist, said.
Two years ago, Bal Thackeray had publicly admonished
Raj at a Sena meeting against evoking his name and using his
photographs.
"You have left Sena. You have no right to use my
photo," the Sena chief had told Raj. The only communication
between the uncle and nephew in the last two years has been
the occasional phone call and exchange of bouquets on
birthdays.
Raj had on December 18, 2005 announced that he was
quitting the Sena and formed MNS in 2006. Raj had quit all
Sena posts on November 27, 2005 by launching a scathing
attack on Uddhav saying a "coterie of clerks was running the
Sena".
"I had sought dignity but was meted humiliation", Raj
had said on quitting the Shiv Sena. PTI SSG
DEP
"We spoke on topics other than politics," Raj, who has
been limelight with his 'Marathi pride' agenda which was
earlier championed by the Sena, said after meeting the
84-year-old patriarch at his residence Matoshree in Bandra.
MNS sources said that Raj met Thackeray to enquire
about his health.
The Shiv Sena too dubbed the meeting as one "between a
nephew and an uncle" and denied that it had any political
agenda.
"The meeting was between a nephew and an uncle and
there was no political agenda and no political discussion,"
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjya Rout told PTI.
Uddhav, differences with whom forced Raj to quit Sena
and float Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), was present at the
20-minute meeting.
"There will be an impact within cadres of Sena and MNS
over the uncle-nephew meeting", MNS sources said. Raj, who
resembles Thackeray and even speaks like him, was tipped to
succeed him until the Sena supremo chose to hand over party
reins to his son Uddhav.
The last time Raj met the senior Thackeray was on
January 23, 2006, the Sena chief's birthday. Asked about
Thackeray's health, Raj said he was fine.
Raj said he got a call from his uncle in the morning
Sunday asking him to send some old books to Matoshree. "I
offered to carry the books," Raj said.
"I am happy at meeting him after such a long gap. We
spoke about cartoons, old memories", Raj, who like his uncle
is a cartoonist, said.
Two years ago, Bal Thackeray had publicly admonished
Raj at a Sena meeting against evoking his name and using his
photographs.
"You have left Sena. You have no right to use my
photo," the Sena chief had told Raj. The only communication
between the uncle and nephew in the last two years has been
the occasional phone call and exchange of bouquets on
birthdays.
Raj had on December 18, 2005 announced that he was
quitting the Sena and formed MNS in 2006. Raj had quit all
Sena posts on November 27, 2005 by launching a scathing
attack on Uddhav saying a "coterie of clerks was running the
Sena".
"I had sought dignity but was meted humiliation", Raj
had said on quitting the Shiv Sena. PTI SSG
DEP
