Pune, Feb 19: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today lambasted Congress and alleged that for the last four decades the party had failed to keep its promises made to the poor.In a speech punctuated with wit and humour, the Sena chief told an election rally near Manchar, about 65 kms from here, that the Congress party ``is a sinking ship and is relying on Sonia Gandhi to garner votes. Was Congress sleeping all these days and has woken up only now?'' he asked.
Launching a frontal attack on Congress chief campaigner Sonia Gandhi, Thackeray said, ``The Italian woman has no right to become the prime minister of this country and we won't tolerate a foreigner to rule us.''
The Sena chief reiterated his demand for building a national monument at the disputed site at Ayodhya, in memory of Mangal Pande, the first freedom fighter to be hanged to death by the British government.
Lambasting former state chief minister Sharad Pawar for his ``policy of appeasment'', Thackeray said he (Pawar) had no right to demandaccount from the BJP-Shiv Sena rule over Maharashtra. On the contrary, the Congress has to give an account of its misrule over the state, he said.
State ministers Liladhar Dhake, Shabir Shaikh and Sena leader Satish Pradhan were present at the campaign meeting for Sena candidate from Khed, NanasahebBalkaade.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
