Tax raids will bring mid-term poll: Thackeray

Is the United Front Government at the Centre gearing up for a mid-term election?

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray comes to this conclusion, offering the nationwide income-tax raids as proof of the Inder Kumar Gujral government's strategy.

Such raids always preceded elections in the past, he thundered at the Shiv Sena Dassera rally at Shivaji Park in north Bombay at the week-end. ''These are tactics to collect funds for the elections from industrial and business houses.''

Accusing the United Front of taking a leaf out of the previous Congress governments, Thackeray said such indiscriminate raids were detrimental to the nation's economy.

He feared this might lead to an exodus of entrepreneurs and professionals from the country and halt development. ''Technocrats and professionals may emigrate to Western countries if they are not guaranteed security to their hard-earned income.''

Political analysts knew the criticism was coming, especially after his cardiologist, Dr Nitu Mandke's home was raided last week in Bombay. ''The income-tax department had no moral right to resort to the raids as all citizens are allowed time to file their returns till December 31 under the Voluntary Disclosure of Income Scheme,'' he said.

Referring to the Congress, Thackeray said the party would never succeed in its machinations to oust the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state.

Taking a dig at Madhavrao Scindia's appointment as the Congress secretary in charge of the state, he said, ''Scindia had been reportedly appointed by Congress president Sitaram Kesri with the sole intention of sidelining Sharad Pawar. If that is so, the Sena fully supports the move.''

Thackeray was equally critical of the BJP for forging an ''unprincipled alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party'' in Uttar Pradesh. It is doubtful if Kalyan Singh would complete his six-month term as chief minister in view of the growing differences with his predecessor Mayawati.

UNI