Mumbai: Fully standing by his 'Dasara' speech containing anti-Muslim remarks, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on October 18 said he will not seek anticipatory bail in the criminal case registered against him and blamed Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshumukh and not his 'bete noire' Chagan Bhujbal for the decision to proceed against him.

An unfazed Thackeray told a press conference that he had not made any objectionable statements by issuing a clarion call for formation of suicide squads to fight terrorism nor did he speak against Indian Muslims.

"If they were objectionable, I would never have uttered those words. I fully stand by my statement. It is Deshmukh and not Bhujbal who is responsible for initiating action against me," the Sena supremo said while giving a clean chit to his now fierce rival, Bhujbal, Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

Thackeray said he had not sought anticipatory bail last time and he would not apply for one this time as well, he said and thanked the media for giving his statement wide publicity.

PTI