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Hindu leader now says Pakistani cricketers are welcome
AFP
23 November 1998
NEW DELHI, Nov 23 (AFP) - A firebrand Hindu leader who had vowed to
stop Pakistani cricketers from playing in India has reversed his stand
after being snubbed by the Indian prime minister, reports said Monday.
Bal Thackeray, whose Hindu Shiv Sena party rules Bombay, welcomed
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's recent pledge to guarantee the
safety of any Pakistani team which toured India.
Vajpayee's promise was widely seen as a snub to Thackeray, whose party
has frequently threatened to prevent Pakistani cricket teams from
playing in India, to protest at Islamabad's alleged support for Moslem
militant groups in India.
``After this announcement by the prime minister, I feel Pakistanis will
at least now improve their behaviour towards India,'' newspapers quoted
Thackeray as saying.
The Shiv Sena is an ally of Vajpayee's Bharatiya Janata Patty (Indian
People's Party) and a member of India's coalition government which
took office eight months ago.
The Pakistani cricketers are to tour India in January for three Tests
and three limited over games. It would be the team's first visit to
India in 11 years.
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