Thackeray was addressing a customary rally here on Thursday on the occasion of Dussera. He expressed disappointment over the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP government's recent decision to hike power tariff and said that it should be immediately withdrawn as far as agricultural consumers were concerned. "We must protect the interests of farmers and if possible should provide power free of cost."

Thackeray took a dig at the Congress-ruled co-operatives in the state and said that the state government can continue to provide power at the revised rates to these co-operatives which have made enough money over the years.

Thackeray in his diktat instructed chief minister ManoharJoshi to release the much delayed package for the textile mill workers in Mumbai. The excess land possessed by the city textile mills should be divided into four parts -- Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, Mumbai Municipal Corporation, mill workers and mill onwers -- and the excess land should be allowed to be sold. "However, the revenue generated through the sale of land should be utilised for the payment of arrears to the workers and automation. These mills will not be allowed to shift out of Mumbai," he announced.

The Sena chief said that the "golden handshake" would be acceptable if the millowners were ready to pay sufficient amount to the workers. "This long pending issue should be resolved without further delays," he added.

Thackeray directed Joshi to put a ban on foreign tours by the ministers from his council of ministers. "Such tours are of no use as nothing concrete materialises from them," he opined. Thackeray's remarks have put a question mark over the proposed Germany tour bya team headed by Joshi in October-end.

Thackeray pooh-poohed the ongoing attack from the opposition about the state heading towards bankruptcy under the "Shivshahi" rule and justified various schemes undertaken by the state government for the improvement of social and physical infrastructure.

Thackeray asked the Joshi government not to disconnect water and power supply to the occupants of tenaments of Mhada and said that "this will not be allowed."

He strongly justified the police encounters against the gangsters and said that it would be continued to eliminate criminal elements.

In his speech, chief minister Manohar Joshi assured that his government will soon release a revival package for textile mills with a focus on the welfare of millworkers. He said that despite the opposition's misleading campaign on the state's deteriorating economic situation, the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Rs 300-crore bond issue was oversubscribed.