Saturday, December 10 2005 12:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today (Dec 10,2005) told his detractors to 'stop worrying about the Shiv Sena and Thackeray family'.

"Stop worrying about whether there will be a split. Whether it will be vertical or horizontal. Worry about Maharashtra and yourselves. We are competent to defend our fort," Thackeray, editor of the party mouthpiece 'Saamna',said in an editorial in the newspaper's issue today.

"I want to tell media that whatever is in your minds is not going to happen," Thackeray said. "Shiv Sena is invincible and indestructible", he said.

Without naming NCP chief Sharad Pawar, he said, "The Sena is forever young in the last 40 years. In order to attract youth, I did not have to show off as chief of cricket, kabaddi, wrestling and football associations".

"I could have been the chief minister of Maharashtra. But I have lived my life like a sanyasi," he said.