30 December,2009 06:59 AM IST | | Amit Singh
Face off: Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray has described Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit as a 'brave leader' for her "brave" stand on the problem of influx of migrants in Delhi
Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit reacts to Sena supremo's article likening her to Indira Gandhi
It's a rare feat to get appreciation from Balasaheb Thackeray, the ageing Shiv Sena patriarch and it is rare that he says it in as many words and that too written.
Thackeray's adulation for former prime minister Indira Gandhi is no secret and Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit was probably the only other Congress leader who achieved the feat.
But, even as the Shiv Sena supremo was pouring praise over Dikshit, she reacted: "I never met him. I do not know him".
Harping on a statement attributed to Dikshit disapproving exodus into city from neighbouring states, Shiv Sena yesterday demanded introduction of "licence system" for entering Mumbai and Delhi to mitigate problems being faced by the local population.
Asked about the issue, Dikshit chose not to take any question on the subject. Congratulating the Delhi Chief Minister for taking "a clear stand" on the problem arising out of influx, an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana' had described Dikshit as a "brave" leader of Congress like Indira Gandhi.
It said her frank and ruthless analysis of problems of Delhi had also brought into focus the woes of Mumbai suffering from similar predicament.
"A woman Chief Minister of Delhi has taken a tough posture on the issue but her Maharashtra counterpart has no guts to emulate it to save Mumbai," the article said.
