Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on September 26 appealed people all over the country to show solidarity by responding whole-heartedly to the call given by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and his party for a day-long bandh to protest the militant attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat.

Urging all organisations propagating the cause of Hindutva, Thackeray said in an editorial in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamna' that time had come for them to show their strength.

Pleading for total success of the bandh, Thackeray, however, cautioned Hindu and Muslim communities to ensure that communal tensions did not arise. He also urged them to refrain from inciting communal passions.

The Sena chief also appealed "patriotic" Muslims to participate in the bandh and strive towards unity and integrity of the nation.

Taking a dig at Pakistan, Thackeray said it was allegedly trying to divide Hindus and Muslims on communal lines.

The neighbouring country had evil designs to create communal riots in India so that the government's attention was diverted from border security to tackling domestic issues, he said.

Pakistan was waiting for this very moment when the security at the borders would become weak, he cautioned.

Thackeray called upon secular-minded Muslims to unite with others to foil the conspiracy hatched by Pakistan to destabilise India.

Appealing to Shiv Sainiks to maintain calm, Thackeray said it was expected of them to observe restraint and ensure that tension did not prevail among the communities.

The Sena chief said the Sainiks should bear in mind that the bandh had been called to condole the death of victims who fell prey to bullets of terrorists and urged them not to force the people to participate in the bandh.

The bandh should reflect the solidarity of the people in condemning the attack on the temple and killings of innocent people in Gujarat by militants, Thackeray said.

PTI