Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray riles PM over address to the nation

MUMBAI: Terming the Prime Minister's address to the nation on September 21 as "most laughable", Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said Manmohan Singh has "shamelessly" defended Foreign Direct Investment ( FDI) in retail and rise in diesel prices.

"How can a Prime Minister who failed to convince Mamata Banerjee on the issues of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, trying to convince the people of the country," Thackeray said, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' today.

The prime minister's address to the nation was "most laughable" and quite unprecedented, he said. There may not have been a more laughable speech in India's history, he added.

The move to bring in FDI in multi-brand retail had angered trading community, the Sena chief said. The increase in diesel prices has also adversely affected the common man, he added.

On Manmohan Singh's remark that "money does not grow on trees", Thackeray said, "does money emanate from coal mines, or from fodder (scam) or Bofors (scam)."

"The PM says there is no money, then why are largesses heaped on Muslims," Thackeray asked. He wondered how was the government going to fund food security and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

By opposing the PM's Pakistan visit, the Army chief has given expression to the public anger over the issue, he said.