New Delhi: Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray's speech on October 16 stirred a hornet's nest with Opposition parties asking the Maharashtra government to take legal action against him for "inciting communal hatred" and even demanding de-recognition of his party while BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) distanced itself from his remarks.

"Thackeray has broken his own record of fire eating fanaticism through his latest speech... by giving an open call for subversion of Constitution," Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said.

"Thackeray has the dubious distinction of being a disenfranchised leader. We believe his party should be de-recognised," Reddy said adding that the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was "closely examining" the speech.

Accusing Thackeray of attempting to incite people to take to terrorism, he said the matter was serious as the Sena chief was not an ordinary individual but the head of a party.

In a statement in New Delhi, the CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) Polit Bureau asked the Vajpayee government not to remain silent but denounce his speech calling upon Hindus to form suicide squads.

"The Maharashtra government must act immediately to show that Bal Thackeray is not above the law. It must file a case against him for inciting hatred against religious minorities," it said.

The BJP rejected its ally's suggestion for formation of suicide squads saying it was for the government to tackle the problem.

PTI