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Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has denied saying anything against minorities at the party's annual Dussehra rally in Mumbai on Tuesday.
"I never used the word 'minority' in my speech. I am a responsible person and I am not going to spread fire for no reason. I accept Muslims as citizens of this country. But I was talking about pro-Pakistan Muslims. And I said that those Muslims who have objections when Pakistani flags are burnt in this country should not stay in this country," he said at a press conference on Friday.
The clarification came after the Maharashtra government slapped a case under Section 153 (a) of the Indian Penal Code against Thackeray for his alleged inflammatory speech.
The section deals with offences relating to the promotion of enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race and language, among others, and with acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
Asked what he meant by saying that Hindus should form suicide squads to take on terrorists, he said, "I have just announced, but I won't go into details now. There is no question of elaborating about suicide squads."
He said he never wanted such squads to target minorities. "But the Muslims should consider themselves as the citizens of this country."
Asked if Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal was targeting him, he said the case was filed because of Chief Minister Vilas Deshmukh.
He also said the Democratic Front government wanted to arrest him, as it had not achieved anything after being in power for three years.
Asked if he regretted making the speech, he retorted, "If I am going to regret I will not speak. What I say I say."
"Violence is the only way [to solve the problem of cross-border terror]. And if I am wrong show me the other way," he said.
Thackeray said he would not seek an anticipatory bail, as he had not done so when the police arrested him in 2000. He added that the police had not sent him any notice so far.
The Sena chief said he had respect for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as it was because of him that the Bharatiya Janata Party had grown.
He said he wanted a stable government at the Centre, as Pakistan wanted to see chaos in India.
Asked if it was right to make such statements in a country where people were religious, he said: "Against terrorist, yes. Against Pakistan, yes."
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