Author: A Staff Reporter
Publication: Afternoon Despatch
& Courier
Date: January 19, 2002
Pakistani railway minister, Mr.
laved Ashraf's recent demand that India barter the Shiv Sena chief, Mr.
Bal Thackeray, in exchange for the 20 terrorists which it (India) has sought
from the Pakistani government has invited total condemnation from Sena
bigwigs who term the demand as "ridiculous and outrageous."
According to reports appearing in
a section of the Pakistani press, Mr. Ashraf had made this assertion to
journalists at Doha. He had argued that the demand was unreasonable and
would India respond to a similar demand from Pakistan. "We, too, demand
that the Indian government hand over the Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray,
to us for his involvement in the 1992-93 communal riots in Mumbai. Will
the Indian government hand over Mr. Thackeray? Give us Thackeray and take
these 20 terrorists..." he asserted.
The worst condemnation has come
from senior Sena leader Pramod Navalkar who described Mr. Ashrafs statement
as the "joke of the year". "It seems the Pakistani minister has gone insane"
Mr. Navalkar said while adding, "We are ready to provide him treatment
in the mental asylum at Thane and if he wants a separate room can also
be provided for him."
He stated that the statement assumes
significance from the point of view of the Pakistani government's ire against
Mr. Thackeray. "But I would like to make it clear that even if they give
up their sinister designs in Kashmir and hand over the entire Pakistan
to us, we are not going to give them Balasaheb."
Shiv Sena spokesperson Subhash Desai
emphasized that the Government of India should take a serious note of the
'irresponsible' remarks of the Pakistani minister and "give a befitting
reply" to Pakistan. "We expect the Government of India to speak on the
subject and take an official stand," Mr. Desai told this newspaper last
night.
Dubbing the Pak. minister's statement
as "madness", Mr. Desai added, "Our demand is for the exchange of criminals
and not any leader. This shows the Pak ministers ignorance," he stated.
