'Make stand on Afzal hanging clear before soliciting Sena support'

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has said the front runners in the race for the office of the President of India, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, should make their stand clear on the mercy petition of Parliament attack convict Mohammed Afzal before soliciting his party's support for the top post.

In an editorial published in Monday's issue of his party mouthpiece 'Saamna', Thackeray said Patil, being a Maharashtrian, should not take Shiv Sena support for granted.

''What is his (Patil) contribution to Maharashtra and as a Union Home Minister?'' the Shiv Sena supremo asked.

''In the case of deciding on the mercy petition of Afzal, it is the Union Home Ministry which decides and the President of India puts his stamp. I have already criticised APJ Abdul Kalam in this regard out of my nationalist feelings. The Union Home Ministry is the real culprit. I hate people who comprise on national security. Even though Shekhawat belongs to the NDA, I would apply the same yardstick to him. The Afzal issue concerns nationalist feelings and Shiv Sena will not comprise on the same,'' he wrote.

Thackeray said Karan Singh was the right choice for the President's post.

''Kashmir is part of India due to his father Maharaja Hari Singh. Singh is a cultured man who never uses the title Maharaj. He should have been the consensus candidate,'' he added.