Tuesday, November 29 2005 13:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: In his first reaction to nephew Raj Thackeray stepping down from the Shiv Sena post following differences with cousin and Sena Executive President Uddhav, party Supremo Bal Thackeray today (Nov 29, 2005) said Sena was "not anybody's private property".

"Those who live in the shadow of the Himalaya should not think that that they are bigger than the mountain", Thackeray said in party mothpiece `Samna.'

Raj, who has quit as chief of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), creating a crisis in the 39-year old party, had also launched a scathing attack on Sena Chief's son Uddhav, saying that the party was being run by a quartet of clerks.

In the editorial, Thackeray also referred to the show of strength by Raj supporters in Mumbai on November 27 and the damage done to Sena MP and `Samna' editor Sanjay Raut's car.

"This `josh' (passion) is missing whenever the Sena is in a crisis or when the opponents attack the party. We would have appreciated, had this `josh' being shown against (Congress nominee) Narayan Rane in the recent Malwan assembly bypoll", he added.

"Everyone who stabs the Sena in the back should ponder over where they would have been had it not been for Sena," Thackeray said.

Supporters of Uddhav have said that Raj enjoyed `cordial' relationship with Rane, former Sena leader and as a result had kept away from the poll campaign by addressing just one public meeting whereas the entire Sena leadership was camping in Malwan for around 10 days.

Drawing a historical parallel to the present crisis in Sena by referring to Maratha warrior king Shivaji's life, Thackeray said, "Even Shivaji Maharaj had been worried whether his kingdom would last amid the family crisis."