Everyone has become leader in BJP: Thackeray

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Tuesday sought to put the onus of the recent strain between the Sena-BJP alliance on the new generation of leaders in that party.

"Advani, myself and Vajpayee... everything was going on nicely. That politics, friendship had maturity. Then it began to vanish... everybody became leaders," he said in an interview to Sena mouthpiece Saamana.

"What should I say about this new generation," he said.

Although Thackeray, did not name any BJP leader from Maharashtra, political observers say the barb was against some state BJP leaders, who do not enjoy good rapport with Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray.

Thackeray, who celebrates his 82nd birthday on Wednesday, lauded BJP leader LK Advani, describing him as "a person made from a different mould." He welcomed Advani's choice for the prime ministerial post.

He described the recent meeting between himself and NCP chief Sharad Pawar as a meeting with an old friend. He said Pawar was a competent person for the post of Prime Minister.

Taking the credit for creation of regional parties by forming Shiv Sena four decades ago, the Sena chief said Narendra Modi won last month's polls only due to support of Gujarati people.

Thackeray demanded that around 50 per cent of flats in the upcoming residential towers in Mumbai be set aside for Marathi people. "Otherwise we will launch an agitation and not allow even a brick to be laid", he warned.

Thackeray criticised the Centre for its "pro-Muslim policies".

"There are reports that the government will pay subsidy for hoisting national tricolour atop madrasas. Ministers should also put their children in madrasas to avail free education", he said.

Expressing strong opposition to census of Muslims in police and armed forces, Thackeray called for 'burning down' of the Sachar committee.

The government cannot even hang Afzal Guru, he said. "Sonia Gandhi will destroy country and go to Italy. Which other country do you have? " he asked.

Thackeray credited Uddhav for retaining the Brihanmumbai municipal corporation. "Our victory was due to Uddhav," he said. There is a Marathi vote bank and 'Marathi manus' is the oxygen of the Sena, he said.