MUMBAI, Oct 19: Senior Shiva Sena leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi, in his letter to party president Uddhav Thackeray, said he did not regret or repent for his statement that the current party leadership lacked the late Balasaheb’s aggression.
‘What I have stated is truth. If speaking truth is an offence, then I have committed it. However, I will not tender an apology for my statement,” Mr Joshi said in his letter. The former chief minister sent off the missive to Uddhav Thackeray yesterday.
After returning to Mumbai from his hometown Nandvi in Raigad district late Thursday evening, Mr Joshi made it clear that he has no plans to quit the Sena. ‘I am a true Shiv Sainik, and I will continue to serve the party,’ Joshi said.
Speaking in an open house interview in Dadar, he said the current Sena leadership could not construct the late Balasaheb’s memorial at Shivaji Park because of its indecisiveness.
Two days later, Mr Joshi was booed at the Sena’s Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. The Sena veteran had to leave the venue in a huff. Referring to the Dussehra incident, Joshi said in his letter that there was a conspiracy against him by a section in the party.
“I am not upset with the grassroots party workers. I am angry with those who conspired to humiliate me at Shivaji Park,” he added.
(UNI)
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