"The last Pakistani leader to visit Ajmer Sharif was General Musharraf. After his visit, he lost power and had to leave his country," Thackeray said.
According to a report published on The Economic Times website, Thackeray also doubted the possibility of Zardari’s prayers getting answered.
"The place of worship is situated in India. How will prayers of those who have an evil eye on our country be answered," Thackeray was quoted in the report.
Zardari is due to visit India on Sunday where he will be the guest of the Indian premier in New Delhi before heading to Ajmer Sharif to offer prayers.
The Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar both clarified on the floor of the Parliament on Thursday that the President's visit was private in nature and did not carry an official agenda. His lunch meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was part of traditional courtesy, and the two nations were not expected to discuss official matters.
COMMENTS (78)
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@Freeman: Thousands of people have died due to bomb blasts, both suicide and homicide, attacks in the last few years.
Has anyone been caught so far? Are our terrorists are so clever that they leave no trail or evidence ? Does this mean there are no terrorists inside the country ?
The bitter reality is this: If the policeman and the pickpocket are friends, the court will never get any evidence to convict him.
So, if you use the argument 'where is the evidence' or 'the courts have not found him guilty', you are insulting the intelligence of everyone who is watching Pakistan closely.
PS: The poor guy who found Qadri guilty had to flee the place. Please don't make our country a laughing stock by saying our courts are free and better than US.
do remember that Bal thackrey visits mazhars and dargahs himself. whatever venom he spews against islam, he is apologestic towards Indian muslims especially maharashtra. bal thackrey selectively blamed a portion of muslims who are called pathans(afghans who came before partition) for criminal and terrorist activities in bombay. is he wrong in that?
@ Mujtaba Khalid
Sikhs who visit Pakistan do not have evil in their eyes.
lol
Thackerys are famous for doing many controvertial statements in India. This just a very small peace of cake.strong text
"@Dr. Priyanka – What’s the harm in saying Bombay?" If there had been no harm, why would there be a change in name? One can call anything by whatever one wants but one will make any sense only if one calls it by what everyone else calls it. In Mumbai, it is Mumbaikars that define "everyone else". Just in case, you didn't know, it is Kolkutta, not Calcutta, Again, Chennai, not Madras! Badoda, not Baroda. Poone, not Poona. Bangaluru, not Bangalore. Varanasi, not Banaras. There may be others. That is the wish of "everyone else" in those places and those wishes must be respected for sentimental and practical reasons, notwithstanding your different sentiments in the matter, legitimate or otherwise. Soon, Bhopal may become Bhojpal, and Ahmedabad will be called Karnawati. Abroad, too! It is Beijing, not Peking. Mockva, not Moscow.
@Its (still) Econonmy Stupid:
despite of gone nut please read my post again and understand it :)
@Indian: jihad is an Islamic term and it takes place in order to protect Islam and Muslims, specially those countries where muslims are being killed for no reason and those countries who are killing innocent muslims can be addressed through jihad. and yes there are other forms of jihad exists but in case of U.S and India such forms are no more effective because both has done with limits of brutality.
@Dr Priyanka: atleast you should not quote this event for sympathies as you belong to a country where incidents like babri masjid and gujrat massacre did happened.
why bal thackery is so worried about pak president's fate and future?
@Blunt:
Relax! The symbol of money power of Mumbai is officially called Bombay Stock Exchange even today; disputes are still settled in the same place where Jinnah practiced & which continues as High Court of Bombay; internationally recognised Airport Code is still BOM; it is still Bombay Gymkhana; fish Harpadon nehereus aka Bombili will always be called Bombay Duck whether caught in Arabian Sea or South China Seas; and it is Bollywood which will never be called Mollywood.....
you must know that bal thakrey is a spent force in indian politics. but you pakistanies love history and you will not come out of past. what statement he makes no one cares here.
@Dr. Priyanka - What's the harm in saying Bombay? I just don't understand the mentality!
Sad..
anybody here can tell me what is lashkar-e-taiba ? and who is its founder ?
@Dr Priyanka:
Thakre's relative is married to a Muslim and LK Advani's niece too is married to a Muslim, after getting converted. Such paradoxes are not unusual. All these mean nothing. If they had refused permission, perhaps their niece/grand daughter would have told them to fly a kite anyway! Their politics is based on hatred since Babri-1992 and that is how they will remain; family compulsions are a separate matter. Since you are a Mumbaikar you may have read Justice BN Sri Krishna's report on 92-93 riots..
Can't believe Indians who were criticizing hafiz saeed are supporting bal thackarey. Double standards. In one of his speeches he said that is a fan of hitler and Muslims in India will meet the same fate as German Jews did. Unbelievable my secular Indian friends.
@Bombay dude: No for me please. It's Mumbai for me because I am a Maharashtrian. We don't like the B- word. We don't like to be ruled by Italians who are cheating India. Even Americans, jews, persians all live here. We are a very proud and fiercely patrotic people. Balasaaheb's niece is married to a Muslim. He is against any person who is anti India. Mumbai is a very modern place. But you have to be sensitive and careful enough not to hurt the sentiments of the local people.Shahrukh is living like a king but he was reprimanded for hurting the sentiments of Indians. But Balasaaheb does not say a word against Salman. Why? do some research!!
@ProudPakistani: There is nothing religious about in going to Mazar in Islam..
@Maqbool: "They only get converted through charitable and peacefull means."
Sure. Like Rinki ....oops...faryal and countless others like her.
Presidents Asif Ali Zardari,svisit of ujmir sharif is not a matter of trouble but it is a step for the peace among the two closing countries and it is a time to close the both nations people s and solve the problems which are necessary for the peace
If this is so and Baal Thakray is saying true and right then Zardari had to visit Ajmer Sharif very early especially after being elected as a president. in 2008.
OMG ..its a threat to democracy
Bal Thackeray after his shrine visit, you can keep him with you forever.
@Khurram: birds of feather flock together
@Umer: ET does not have a jokes section so it landed on the front page.
@Salim Ansari: It should be a TV show "Clash of the LOONEYS'' telecast in both countries, TRPs will hit the roof
@ProudPakistani: At least Bal Thakeray is not the founder of a terrorist organization.
@Umair - I agree 100 percent with you, minorities in Pakistan do not get killed or get life threats from HS. They only get converted through charitable and peacefull means.
See? there are jokers on our side of the border too! Only difference is we don't listen to them.
I hope that Bal Thackeray is right about Zardari losing power after visiting Ajmer Sharif.
Bal Thackeray's grand daughter (eldest son's daughter) has married a Muslim from Gujrat. The entire family attended the wedding. Bal Thackeray did not attend the wedding but attended the reception. The groom is the son of Thackeray's family friend. So, I do not think has religious bias. He is very provincial though. I believe it is in the early 70's he started to drive out from Mumbai (that time Bombay) all South Indians (irrespective of religion) who have settled in Mumbai for generations. The South Indians, especially from Kerala (mostly Hindus) fought back and Thackeray had to back out. Even few years back he started a movement to drive out Bihari settlers, mostly Hindu settlers. He targeted the Bihari Hindu Pooja "Chath Pooja". Here also he had to back out because of strong action from the central government. I would call him very provincial, which is also bad. However, not many care for him in India now. He is ridiculed by many in India. Even Dawood Gillani, (AKK David Coleman) had met him several times during his scouting trips to India. Most Indians do not feel offended if Pakistani's bring him up, but are only laughing in their sleeves.
Zardari has nothing to lose. The people calling the shots in Pakistan today are Difa-e-Pakistan.
My dear Pakistani brothers : Don't listen to this idiotic man. We in Bombay ( yes for me it is still Bombay and will never be Mumbai) just waiting when this guy will (sorry for lack of better word ) die. He is a constant irritant and only gets attention making such provocative and thoughtless statements. To give any reaction to his comments would be seriously giving him too much attention then he deserves.
@Umair: “yes Jihad against India and US, because its our innocent people who get hunted by drones, and how can world forget India’s massacre in Kashmir. If you believe Kashmir is an issue then mean it, otherwise Jihad is the way and we mean it. “
You have selective knowledge of history here is what Pakistan’s contribution to Palestine cause. September 1970 is known as the Black September (Arabic: أيلول الأسود aylūl al-aswad) in Arab history and sometimes is referred to as the "era of regrettable events." It was a month when Hashemite King Hussein of Jordan moved to quash the militancy of Palestinian organizations and restore his monarchy's rule over the country. Then the head of Pakistani training mission to Jordan, Brigadier Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (later Chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan), took command of the 2nd division. Arafat later claimed that the 2nd division of Jordanian army killed between 10,000 and 25,000 Palestinians, although more conservative estimates put the number between 1000 and 2000. Should Palestine call for a jihad against Pakistan? Obviously they are more sophisticated than you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BlackSeptemberin_Jordan
probably found Bal Thackerey right for thr first time, hes one idiot but i wish his prayers for zardari come true and i wish zardari always stays in india and never comes back ever................maybe he should join RSS or sumthing lol
America ridicule india by putting a bounty on saeed. America said to India " I bet if u got prove "
Bal Thakeray is a populist demogogue. At one time or other he has spewed venom on Muslims, South Indians,Biharis and people from UP. He has treated all of them equally .To simply label him simply as Islamophobic is not consistent with his record. Only reason he is given importance is because of his control over lumpen elements in Mumbai the financial capital of India. He has enough support from lumpen elements to cause trouble to Industrialists, film producers and actors. Bal Thakeray lost out to Shah Rukh Khan in their confrontation few years ago. He is not representative of India just as Hafiz Saeed is representative of Pakistan
If only reading the text and no names, it's easily interchangeable with any Pakistani headcase preacher. Though people can call Zardari a number of things, he really doesn't seem to have it in him to be considered amongst the violent India obsessed people in Pakistan. That's one consistent thing about the guy. He never comes off as though he's making threats even under his breath. I wouldn't be surprised if his efforts to remain that way were what causes statements like the recent one regarding the Sharif brothers once it wears on him.
Bal Thakery influences more radical Hindus than Hafiz Saeed Radical Muslim.
Fanaticism, bigotry, discrimination and hatred start when people intentionally start interfering in others personal and religious affairs. There is no need for anybody to butt in when it comes to the religious pilgrimage. All religions are between humans and God and it is nobody’s business. What is next, BT is going to give certificates to who has clean heart and good intentions and who can go to religious pilgrimages or not? It is bad to interfere in one’s own religion but worse to butt in other religions too! I have a hard time to decide which of these two extremists is a bigger fanatic and bigot?
@Umair: This jihad has ruined the lives of your own people and still now you are disillusioned. Btw do you even know the meaning of Jihad? The most reputed Muslim scholars say Jihad is fight against ignorance. It's a fight to be a more tolerant, more educated being. You on the other hand aren't happy with so much violence and killing. All the best to you !
to everyone who talks about Bal Thackrey being anti muslim. You should google his grand daughter and check out who she is married to :). After that ask your self, what if Hafiz Saeed or any of these other "Muslim Ulma" grand daughters, daughters or sisters would be living to this day if they married someone outside their religion.
@ProudPakistani: "I can see Indians defending Bal Thackeray here & when we defend Hafiz Saeed they get provoked…"
If you see most Indians are not agreeing with Thackeray i.e. we believe Zardari or for that reason any Muslim who wants to do sajda at Ajmer Sharif should be able to do so. What we are disagreeing is: - this particular speech does not have any hatred - this speech is not anti-Muslim. So it is this particular speech which we are speaking about. He has made divisive speeches in the past and the court and CEC (Chief Election Commisioner) took him to task for those. This is why te hate spewing speeches have stopped.
@sumeet: Is this guy God who already knows people's intentions before their pilgrimage? I do not compromise on principles and all rightwing religious extremists are equally bad irrespective of their origin or religion. I cannot condemn one extremist in Pakistan and not the other in India, I have to be consistent and fair. The mention of Sunni faith was a dig against the Whabi extremists who hate the pilgrimage to the tombs of everybody. Howeer, if the shoe fits wear it! Thanks for keeping it civil and regards, Mirza
@Mirza: "Since when this rightwing exteremist has become an authority on Sunni faith? It is ironice that both Pakistani and Indian rightwing are opposed to this trip"
Agree with you. Thackeray is making a fool of himself by speaking on aissue where he has no locus standii. I hope that you do see that there is a qualitative difference between the language used by Pakistan iright wing and Indian right wing.
@Umair: And what has Pakistan achieved. Dismemberment of the country, in case you are too young to remember what happened in 1971, and ignominious surrender by 80000 soldiers! Are you proud of it?
@sumeet: They are not fool but funy. Mark TONER Said there is no evidence against Hafiz Saeed to show in court of law. They have now put $10M bounty on him to get some information and evidence against Hafiz Saeed. Is't it funy? India says we have provided all evidence to Pakistan but Mark toner American State department spoke person still looking for a an evidence. What is that??? This is clearly showing that Indian also does not have sofficient evidence against Hafiz Saeed. They created some stories and sent Pakistan to prosecute him in court of Law.
This mean Pakistani Courts were right to let him go. As there is no evidence. Pakistani courts are more free and fair than Indian and American courts.
What else could have been expected from India's own version of Hafiz Saeed?
Why is this number 2 on the front page? It surely deserves to be in the gossip section if at all
@ProudPakistani: No he is not a threat to patriots be them Hindus or muslims. Traitors are not allowed to live in peace!
@ProudPakistani: "even here he is ridiculing a religious tour of Pakistan’s president…Shame!!" There is no winning with Pakistanis, is there? Balasaheb was only being amenable by providing a cautionary note to the President of Pakistan that Ajmer Khwaja does not listen to those who come with anti_Indian feelings in their heart. So, cleanse your heart before you embark on your travels, Mr. President
@Umair: How can the world forget how the Kashmiri Pandits were thrown out of Kashmir by militants? The ethnic cleansing that went on? The poor Kashmiris are living in camps now [sigh].
@ProudPakistani: In Pakistan, do you even have to defend your sense of humor? I know that you have to defend your physical well being if you don't fall in line with the "program".
So zardari must go for the sake of poor nation!
awesome ambassador of religious tourism! NOT
Despite all his flaws, bal Thackeray sure has a sense of humor. Hahaha. But he is wrong about aardvark. I don't think he has a "evil eye" on India. He just making the best of a difficult situation in Pakistan because of the limitations to his power which prevents him from doing more to bring peace.
@proudpakistani,present me a single evidence of bala thackeres terrorist activity or any of his alleged hate speech against muslims.dont just throw allegations without any substance.world knows the double speak of pakistanis regarding osama,regarding terrorist activity,regarding kargil war..do u want me to go further..
To all the Indians here....Thakraeys statement is as idiotic and insulting as a Pakistani figure claiming that the Sikhs who visit their shrines in Pakistan, their prayers wont be answered!
“The last Pakistani leader to visit Ajmer Sharif was General Musharraf. After his visit, he lost power and had to leave his country,”. It is true! Bal thackerey is funny!! tumhari muhn mein ghee sakkar LOL.
Mr. America did you see who is terrorizing the people...I think you put the money on wrong person.
@sumeet: yes Jihad against India and US, because its our innocent people who get hunted by drones, and how can world forget India's massacre in Kashmir. If you believe Kashmir is an issue then mean it, otherwise Jihad is the way and we mean it.
@umair,yeah i can see what type of scholar he is when he declares jihad against india and US.and his charity is a cover for his terrorist activity.do u think the rest of d world is fool to believe such stories?and there is other sister organizations of lashkar who do the genocide of minorities quite efficiently.so why would he bother to give threat to minorities.
I can see Indians defending Bal Thackeray here & when we defend Hafiz Saeed they get provoked... WoW typical dual standards of Indians... Bal Thackeray is biggest threat to the Muslims in both India & out of India, even here he is ridiculing a religious tour of Pakistan's president...Shame!!
@Salim Ansari: Why should Bala Saaheb Thackerey meet this man? Any specific reason you have in mind?
@mr.aamir,thackery is neither pot nor kettle.and there is no comparison between the two.
Bal Thakrey must be imprisoned for his hate speeches against other religions and neighboring countries.
he don't need power its a time for safe exit.
LOL @ Thakraeys thoughts
This is very insulting to the faithfuls Gharib Nawaz is not that tyrant to punish the devotees just for coming over. Since when this rightwing exteremist has become an authority on Sunni faith? It is ironice that both Pakistani and Indian rightwing are opposed to this trip!
Hafeez Sayeed and Bal Thackery should meet.
LOL......Thackeray you are so funny.
"How will prayers of those who have an evil eye on our country be answered".......perfect example of pot calling the kettle black.