Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Friday virtually defended the attack on Team Anna member and lawyer Prashant Bhushan for his remarks on Kashmir advocating a plebiscite, saying he had paid the price for advocating Pakistan's cause.
"Should Prashant Bhushan be showered with flowers for his anti-national comments supporting plebiscite in Kashmir, which Pakistan has been demanding," Thackeray asked in an editorial in Friday's edition of party mouthpiece Saamana.
"Those who attacked Bhushan were not thieves or goons but had gone to question him on his comments on Kashmir," he said.
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'Bhushan spoke of cutting Kashmir off'
Thackeray, who had supported anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare's fast on bringing Janlokpal bill, said, "Until Hazare and his associates spoke against corruption, it was okay.
"However, these people are voicing their opinion on everything from national security to electoral process," he said.
The Sena supremo said Kashmir was the "crown" of India and Bhushan spoke of cutting it off. "Anna Hazare has not condemned his team member's comments, but condemned the attack on him," Thackeray said.
The Sena chief said certain individuals and groups are getting unnecessary and undue importance and 'Team Anna' is one such group.
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