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Manohar Joshi warns of 'spontaneous action' if Pak team went ahead

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi today said the Pakistani cricket team might call off its tour of India in the wake of the digging of the pitch in Ferozeshah Kotla stadium at Delhi by Shiv Sainiks and said his partymen would resort to "spontaneous action" if the Pakistanis went ahead with the tour.

Joshi, who was in Hyderabad to attend the World Marathi Conference, told newsmen that "there is a possibility that Pakistan might not come. Signals to the effect came from the Pakistan Cricket Board".

He said it was not possible to welcome Pakistani cricketers as the neighbouring nation was abetting terrorism in Kashmir. If the trend persisted, terrorists would infiltrate into other parts of the country. "They want to extend the hand of friendship and at the same time, they attack the people. This is not possible", he asserted.

Referring to the public outcry against the incident, Joshi said there was also public support to the Sainiks' action.

He replied in the negative when asked whether the incident would affect the ties between the Shiv Sena and the BJP. The alliance would continue for the next elections also. Such incidents would not spoil the image of the Shiv Sena, he said.

UNI

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