Shiv Sena targets Rahul again

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Rahul Gandhi, who challenged the Shiv Sena in its own turf by his hugely successful visit in which he travelled by local trains, had mentioned Bombay several times in his opening remarks at a speech in Bhaidas Hall, according to the videotapes of the function telecast on some television channels.

By doing so, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said in Tuesday's issue of Saamna, Rahul Gandhi had sought to rub salt and deprive Maharashtrians their right over Mumbai.

"Those people who want to break off Mumbai from Maharashtra always refer to the city as Bombay," Thackeray said in the edit.

He added that Rahul Gandhi could say this only because he was given protection by over 22,000 policemen on his trip, his footwear picked up by Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe and Chief Minister Ashok Chavan doing the duty of a sentry.

"After all this, Rahul blatantly lied that only 10-15 people opposed his trip, the rest of Mumbai was supporting him," he pointed out, adding that scores of Shiv Sainiks were detained the night before Rahul Gandhi's arrival and over 500 nabbed for showing him black flags during the trip.

"What kind of macho (mardangi) he displayed by moving around the city surrounded by a posse of armed commandoes?" demanded Thackeray.

The edit said that Congress needs security for its meetings and funerals.

Rahul Gandhi's trip would prove to be the last journey of the Congress - for which it would again need police protection, he said.

Thackeray 84, had last year as well hit out at the Congress general secretary for his statements on the role of north Indians in protecting Mumbai during the 26/11 terror attacks.

He said: "It seems that since Rahul won't grow any further physically, he has now grown horns and wisdom teeth to make such statements.

"Despite advancing age, if a person does not get married, he becomes frustrated, even Rahul seems to be a victim of this disease and makes stupid remarks," Thackeray said, lashing out at the 39-year-old Congress general secretary.