MUMBA, 23 January 2008 — Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray yesterday criticized Malaysian Hindus of Indian origin for their protests against alleged social and economic discrimination.

In an interview with the party mouthpiece “Saamna,” Thackeray denounced the Malaysian Hindus saying that they should be loyal to Malaysia where they live. Thackeray said it was neither proper nor justified for Indians to agitate in Malaysia. And this applies to Muslims in India, too, he said.

Thackeray said that he was firm in his earlier stand that entry to Mumbai should be allowed through a special permit to control the influx of migrants from other parts of India.

“I accept and agree that Article 19 of the Indian Constitution grants freedom to the citizen to move and settle in any part of the country, but nobody knows that Article 19 (1) of the constitution also says that people should also not create any kind of nuisance for the local people. Because of the influx of migrants the present situation is such that Mumbai is bursting at its seams,” Thackeray added.