Thackeray also asked Chief Minister Manohar Joshi to halt with immediate effect the foreign tours of ministers as they did not serve any purpose and recommended disposal of surplus mill lands for the revival of closed and sick units. Incidentally, Joshi himself was to lead a high-level delegation to Germany in connection with the convention of the International Road Congress there.

Much ahead of all the political parties, Thackeray launched the campaign for the March 2000 assembly elections at his annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park by giving a clarion call to party workers to take all possible steps for retaining power.

In his brief, but hard-hitting speech, Thackeray said it was essential to help the farmers by exempting them from payment of electricitybills. ``If Punjab and Haryana can take such steps to protect the interest of farmers, it should not be difficult for the alliance government to take similar steps. However, rich farmers, particularly sugarcane growers should not get benefit of such a move,'' Thackeray added.

On the revival of sick and closed textile mills, Thackeray said his party's policy on the issue is very clear. Conditional permission for disposal of surplus mill land should be granted. Firstly, it should be binding on the mill owner to utilise the funds generated from disposal of surplus land for the modernisation of the unit, secondly, he should draft a comprehensive voluntary retirement plan, land should be disposed in accordance with the provisions of the development control rules and that adequate training should be given to existing staff.

``I feel that both the workers as well as the mill owners should accept our formula in larger interest of the industry. We will ensure that no textile worker is rendered jobless owing to theimplementation of his proposal,'' Thackeray said.

Thackeray also came down heavily on the Srikrishna Commission report and also the latest report submitted by the Augiar Committee on encounters. ``I am reiterating my earlier statement that the Srikrishna Commission was biased against me, since I had asked the Chief Minister to wind it up owing to huge expenditure incurred on the commission,'' Thackeray added.

Though the Srikrishna Commission never recommended his arrest, the opposition parties were demanding his detention for political reasons. ``If you have courage, you can arrest me, but in that event, you will have to face the consequences,'' Thackeray said.

Referring to the criticism of Mumbai police by the Augiar Committee, Thackeray said it was unfortunate that the judge described the encounters as fake, despite the fact the police action was in self defence. ``I feel sorry for such committees. Whenever police officials are killed in encounters, they think them to be real. However, whenanti-social elements are killed, they think of it as fake. Such recommendations and reports are unacceptable and the views of the so-called human right activists on such issues should not be given much importance,'' Thackeray remarked.

On the row over creation of new zone for hawkers, Thackeray asked Mayor Nandu Satam, who was also present at the mammoth public meeting, that he should forthwith abandon his plan to rehabilitate hawkers in the residential zones. ``You (Satam) should first ensure that all the illegal unauthorised hawkers are deported to their states and under no circumstances, he will permit creation of such zones in the residential zones. As per my information, out of the three lakh hawkers in the metropolis, only 25,000 to 30,000 hawkers are legal and authorised,'' he added.

Contrary to the initial expectations, Thackeray's attack against Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh and former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad was mild. Thackeray condemned their statement for financial aid toPakistan to help Mulsims there.

Launching the election campaign of his party, Thackeray said he will not hesitate to fight for the cause of Hindutwa. ``From today onwards, no one should say Bharat or India, all of us must call our country as Hindustan,'' Thackeray said.

The Sena chief asked party workers to undertake a massive campaign for the party during the saffron week beginning from October 9. ``Hardcore Sena workers should ensure that the alliance government retains powers in the State, with much larger strength in the legislature,'' he said.