Proud to be on LeT hit list: Shiv Sena

Senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Friday termed it “a matter of pride” after Pakistani-American terrorist David Coleman Headley in his testimony in a Mumbai court stated that Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) might have been interested in planning a strike on the Sena Bhavan or assassinate its head (late Sena chief Bal Thackeray).

Reacting to Headley’s statement, the Sena MP said, “We are not surprised that terrorists are interested in doing a recce of Sena Bhavan or Matoshree. Pakistan has always had both of them on their hit list. It is a matter of pride for us that Pakistan considers us to be their enemy and we are on their hit list”. Mr Raut said the fact that Pakistani terrorists considered Shiv Sena their enemy was like “winning a Maha Vir Chakra,” India’s second highest military decoration.

He further said the late Sena chief Bal Thackeray consistently fought against Pakistani and Khalistani terrorists for 50 years and that he had considered himself to be fortunate to be a target of terrorists.

Headley, , while deposing before a Mumbai court had said that he had tried to develop close relations with one Rajaram Rege who he met inside Sena Bhavan in 2006-07 as he thought that the LeT might be interested in either attacking the Bhavan or “assassinate its head”.

Meanwhile, Mr Rege maintained Headley met him outside Sena Bhavan along with one Vilas Warke. “He expressed desire to see Sena Bhavan from inside. I declined the request. The meeting lasted for just two minutes. I did not know Headley or Warag before,” he said.

Speaking to newspersons later, senior Sena minister for public transport, Diwakar Raote, said he was not aware of any Rajaram Rege being working at the Sena Bhavan. He added the Bhavan had been a target of the terrorists as a bomb blast had exploded close-by during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.