Thursday, June 30 2005 15:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Pune: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has described senior Sena leader Narayan Rane as a "hardcore Shiv Sainik" and said that the latter would not "betray the Sena".

Thackeray's comments came in the backdrop of recent media reports mentioning rift between top Sena leadership and Rane.

"The idea of removing Rane from the post of leader of Opposition has not even appeared in the heads of anybody in the Sena...neither in the heads of Uddhav, Raj, Manohar Joshi and Subhash Desai (all senior Sena leaders)," Thackeray was quoted in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

The Sena leader further said that Rane would not "betray" Sena and urged Shiv Sainiks not to fall prey to any rumour mongering.

Rane, who is in Konkan, was not available for comment.