Mumbai, May 28: After the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, too, has opposed the proposal for a caste-based Census. Thackeray said that though he was not against mentioning religion in the Census, but counting on caste lines would be harmful for the country.
“Do you want make the countryrot with a caste-based Census?” asked Thackeray while addressing the media at his residence, Matoshree, in Bandra on Thursday.
“I do not want to comment on the issue of other backward classes. I will talk regarding the caste-based Census. I strongly oppose the idea. The country is already divided due to the formation of states on linguistic lines. What will happen if the Census is based on caste?” he asked.
Displaying his trademark comic vein, Thackeray said, “How will you record the caste of a couple if the husband is a Brahmin and the wife is either an OBC or from another caste? Will you record the caste of the husband, or the wife? Enough is enough. Do not divide the country further.”
“If you wish, you can record the number of Hindus, Muslims and Christians so that the country will know how many Bangladeshi or Pakistani nationals have infiltrated into our country,” he said.
Thackeray also lambasted Indian cricketers for their dismal performance in the T-20 World Cup in West Indies. “Our players perform well in the IPL, but why can’t they ensure a similar performance while playing for the country? Players like (Suresh) Raina got out on just 1-2 or 4-5 runs. How does this miracle happen? If I say something on this they allege that I am politicisisng cricket. But this is (cricketers’ performance) still a mystery to me. This is not T-20 but Tik 20 (make at least 20 runs). Why can’t they perform outside the IPL? I want answers, especially from the batsmen,” he said.
When asked about the Sena’s chances of winning the by-poll of the legislative council, Thackeray recalled a statement he had made in a meeting with then-Union home minister Indrajit Gupta.
“I told Gupta that Shiv Sena was not born for power, but that power was born for Shiv Sena. The elections are a gamble. Everyone is playing sincerely. We too play our game. I am confident that we will win both the seats,” he said.
-Agencies