Wary of terror threat, Bal Thackeray skips birthday celebrations

Shiv Sainiks today made a beeline to Matoshree, the residence of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray here to greet him on his 84th birthday but the veteran leader did not meet any of them owing to security reasons.

Party executive president and Thackeray's son Uddhav accepted the greetings on behalf of his father.

The party had said yesterday that the Sena supremo will not be meeting his followers due to security reasons and possible terror threat to the party workers' rally, being organised for the celebrations.

"Terrorists can take advantage of the crowd to create trouble," a statement in the party mouthpiece Saamna today said.

The concluding meeting of "Mazi Chalval, Me Maharashtracha", an initiative by a Sena office bearer Satish Walunj to unite the Sena and MNS will be held today. Both the parties have distanced themselves from the initiative.

Uddhav will release a CD, compilation of his father's speeches at a programme later in the evening.