Mumbai, Nov 16: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today lashed out at the CPM for unleashing a reign of terror in Nandigram and accused the Congress of being a mute spectator to ensure survival of its own coalition government at the Centre.

Describing the Marxists as ''blood thirsty devils'', Mr Thackeray said he always held that the Marxists, who boast of morality and preach values to the world, were a blot on humanity. ''They always prove me right by their actions. Nandigram is a fresh example,'' the Sena chief wrote in an editorial in 'Saamna', his Party mouthpiece today.

The Sena chief said West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhdeb Bhattacharjee, who justified the violence, proudly terming it ''tit-for-tat'' for the opposition in Nandigram, has no moral right to continue in office.

''The West Bengal Government should have been dismissed and the President's rule should have been imposed. But what can one do when the Congress has chosen to cover up the atrocities in Nandigram to save its own government at the Centre,'' Mr Thackeray alleged.

He said Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi says that the violence in Nandigram is state sponsored.

''Mr Dasmunsi is a senior minister and a Congress leader. Shouldn't the Buddhadeb Government be dismissed on this count,'' Mr Thackeray asked.

The Sena chief also criticised the Marxists for speaking against Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi for his views on Nandigram.

Taking a dig at the CPM's statement that the Governor had acted in an unconstitutional manner and should not have crossed his limits, Mr Thackeray asked, ''Have the Marxists ever behaved in the same manner?'' Marxists like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat do not spare an occasion to target Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the Gujarat riots and Shiv Sena over the Srikrishna Commission Report, but remain mum when the Bengal Chief Minister justifies the violence in Nandigram, Mr Thackeray said.

He said the Marxists have found themselves trapped in the Nandigram muddle and hence, suddenly they seem to have lost interest in the nuclear deal.


UNI