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Thackeray reiterates views on Pak cricket team

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has reiterated his resolve not to allow the Pakistani cricket team to play in Maharashtra even if it meant parting of ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state.

''Now it is for the BJP to decide whether they would like to continue the alliance or not. The ball is in the BJP's court... If they want to break let them break. If not, well and good. But if worse comes to worse, we are prepared,'' Thackeray said in an interview to a private television channel.

He was reacting to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's statements that no state should stop the Pakistan cricket team from playing in India.

On Defence Minister George Fernandes' statement that the Shiv Sena chief frequently changes his statements, Thackeray said, ''This George Fernandes had said something today that whatever I say in the morning I change in the evening. I say to him, you have changed your party and you are accusing me of changing my views. What did you say about China recently, and didn't you change your words in the evening?''

UNI

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