Sunday, January 15 2006 11:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray says he is not saddened by the recent exits of Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray from the party.

Why should I feel sad? I am strong enough. I have faced more tough situations. There was a time when I was under pressure for merging Sena with the Janata Party but I survived even that period, Thackeray was quoted in an interview today (Jan 15, 2006).

After these incidents, I have become a better judge of human character, he said.

The Sena chief said Rane 'did not leave the party but was expelled'.

"Rane once told me that had it not been for the Sena, he would have been a victim of an encounter (with police)," he said.

Thackeray said Rane `kept the party funds with himself. "He used to collect funds from builders. I once told him to send the funds to me. He said he would but never did".

Replying to a query, Thackeray conceded that Rane used to send some 'mithai' (slang for money) to Matoshree, the Thackeray family residence in suburban Bandra.

I am not denying that. We have list of expenses incurred during elections, he added.