JOIN USThe Shiv Sena, which stayed away from the nation-wide bandh called by the Opposition to protest against the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, made its position clear on Monday by ridiculing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s address to the nation and terming it “laughable”.
In the editorial of the party mouthpiece “Saamna,” Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray said Thursday's bandh shows the anger simmering amongst traders.
Though the editorial seemed more like an apology by the party for distancing itself from the nation-wide agitation, it focussed more on criticising Prime Manmohan Singh rather than attacking the FDI in multi-brand retail.
While poking fun at Singh's asking common man “to strengthen hands”, the editorial slammed the hike in diesel prices stating: “We cannot say if Prime Minister's hands are strong...but people are strong and even if the cooking fire in household get snuffed out; they will come out to boot Congress out of power.”
On the Prime Minister’s statement that “money does not grow on trees”, the editorial caustically remarked: “Possibly money grows in coal mines, fodder and Bofors gun. If the government is facing financial paucity then why is it doling out largesse to Muslim minority...and more importantly, how will money come for its much tom-tommed food security and MGNREGA projects.”