Thackeray blasts media over his health ‘rumours’

Scotching rumours about his failing health, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray attacked media reports that he had been put on a ventilator.  Thackeray stressed that his health was poor but “had not collapsed”.

“I am undergoing some problems,” admitted the octogenarian in an editorial on Monday in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna of which he is the editor.

“Do not spread the stench of false reports about my health. [It was said that] because of my sinking health, all family members were called to Matoshree. Will the Thackeray family members be called to Matoshree in such a situation or [US president Barack] Obama’s family members or that [Pakistan President Asif Ali]Zardari’s? After all, the relationship of the Thackeray family is strong and that is the true strength,” the editorial said.

“There is nothing to hide in the fact that I am suffering from poor health. I had myself taken the Shiv sainiks into confidence in the Dusshera rally and given information about my poor health.”

“It is true that I feel breathless, but no need of artificial breathing has been felt so far,” Thackeray said, adding that while his son and Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray was keeping an eye on his condition, his estranged nephew Raj Thackeray was also making frequent visits.

The Sena chief said that the daily newspapers were being read out to him, but he is not taking phone calls and meetings for now.