Mumbai: Rushing to the support of embattled Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena today (June 22, 2004) said the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) should not remove Modi under pressure from the opposition.

"It (removal of Modi) is an issue made out by the Opposition. Why are you (BJP) removing him under pressure? You (BJP) think of your party's interest," Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said.

Earlier, replying to a question as to what he felt on the moves within the BJP to remove Modi, Thackeray sarcastically remarked, "Voters have already removed everybody", but doubted if the new man coming in would not commit mistakes.

Thackeray claimed that the riots in the entire State of Gujarat were a reaction to what happened in Godhra. "If the reaction to the demolition of Babri Masjid could be felt in Mumbai, why can't the reactions of Godhra occur in other parts of Gujarat," he said.

The Sena supremo, who has retaliated to the drubbing received by saffron parties in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls by stating that he was going back to hardline 'Hindutva' stance, felt that it was up to the BJP to decide which way it wishes to go.

"Their policy (appeasement) helped them little. When I asked senior BJP leaders before elections if their tally of 182 seats would increase or decrease, nobody was sure," Thackeray said

Thackeray also claimed that deep inside the party, BJP workers were not too happy with the minority appeasement policy. "Many would say that they were toeing the line just because their party directed so," he said.

The Sena chief also denied that the party was put to loss as non-Maharashtrians did not vote his party for roping in the 'Mee Mumbaikar' issue before the polls.

"The Gujaratis backed us wholeheartedly, so did the Sindhis, Punjabis and the Shettys," Thackeray said, but was silent on the support from people from other North Indian States settled here.