Thursday, May 26 2005 18:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Days after he shared the dais with NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) Chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray today (May 26, 2005) said he had never extended a hand of friendship with Pawar.

"It is the media that twisted my statement and I never extended my hand of friendship to the NCP chief," Thackeray told reporters after the release of book, "Flames of Freedom", in Mumbai.

The Sena supremo said on May 11, he had only repeated the views of noted historian Babasaheb Purandare, "History has shown us that Marathas fought among themselves. Even Muslims did not indulge in internal fights to that extent. Marathas should come together".

However, Thackeray today said the same situation exists even now. Therefore, there is need for the NCP chief to seriously think on it.

"Why should I think," the Sena supremo said adding he was fine at wherever he is.

After 23 years, Thackeray and Pawar on May 11 shared a public platform here on the occasion on the release of Sena supremo's photobiography.

On the expulsion of party's Thane district chief Vivek Pandit, the Sena supremo said, "I will not tolerate indiscipline in the party. Those burning the copies of party mouthpiece, 'Saamna', should first leave the party and indulge in such incidents."

Pandit was expelled from the party after some Sena activists from Vasai burnt copies of party mouthpiece Saamna on Tuesday for publishing a report against a local Catholic priest.