Indian militant leader ready to scuttle Pakistan tour (5 January 1999)

5 January 1999

Indian militant leader ready to scuttle Pakistan tour

AFP

BOMBAY, Jan 5 (AFP) - A firebrand Hindu leader in Bombay has reiterated his threat to scuttle a planned Pakistan cricket tour of India this month.

"We won't allow them to play and my men are ready in Madras and New Delhi," said Bal Thackeray, head of the Hindu militant Shiv Sena party which controls the western state of Maharashtra.

Thackeray has urged all Hindus in Bombay -- the state capital of Maharashtra and the centre of Indian cricket -- to "rise up" against the 10-week tour because of Islamabad's alleged support for militant groups in India.

Thackeray accused Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Indian-controlled Kashmir and other areas through its intelligence services.

"In such circumstances, the tour should not be permitted," he said.

The Shiv Sena is bitterly anti-Moslem and was accused by human rights groups of killing Moslems during sectarian riots in Bombay in 1992-3.

Pakistan is due to play a three-match Test series and three limited overs games against India during their tour -- the first in India for 11 years.

Pakistan cricket chief Khali Mahmood warned last month that the tour could still be called off if the safety of his cricketers could not be guaranteed.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has personally pledged to protect the visitors.

Source :: AFP