Thackeray calls Kejriwal 'item girl'

Mumbai, Jan 24 (IANS) Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray Friday joined the anti-Aam Aadmi Party, chorus labelling Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "item girl, madari, joker".

In a scathing editorial Friday in the party mouthpiece "Saamana", Thackeray said over the years, Indian politics has witnessed many "jokers"; starting with Raj Narain, later the antics of Lalu Prasad Yadav, and many others.

"However, all of them are left way behind by this mob of mad people, led by Arvind Kejriwal, who have stormed the country's political scene," Thackeray, also the publication's editor, wrote.

"The antics of AAP and its leaders, including Kejriwal, have shamed every person calling themselves politicians," he added.

He said Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti carried out illegal raids in the city and gave unauthorised orders to the police which started the entire fracas in the national capital earlier this week.

Later, Kejriwal staged a dharna which created huge public inconveniences in Delhi; "With such antics, Kejriwal wants to spread chaos around the country; It appears that there could be the involvement of some disruptive forces behind the agitation," he said.

Virtually defending Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Thackeray said: "As CM, he has not been given licence to spread chaos or speak nonsense against anybody."

Mentioning the insulting remarks against nurses by AAP leader Kumar Vishwas, Thackeray said his (Vishwas) recent jokes on women backfired and he was forced to apologise.

He referred to how die-hard AAP supporters like author Chetan Bhagat are also feeling disheartened after the Kejriwal dramatics - "to many it appears that this mob of madcaps has now become the enemy of the 'aam aadmi' (common man)".

"Shinde called (Kejriwal) mad, Bhagat says AAP is like an item girl seeking attention in politics, NCP called AAP a snake; This mob of mad people, led by the monkey-minder ('Madari') Kejriwal will not last long," Thackeray said.