BJP differs ally Shiv Sena's "Mumbai for Marathis" stand

BJP today said it differed with its ally Shiv Sena's "Mumbai for Marathis" campaign, but asserted that it would not break its alliance with that party.

"Our party president (Nitin Gadkari) has made our stand very clear, that we consider entire India as one unit, including Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of caste, creed, sex and religion," senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here today.

"People have got equal rights to go anywhere, settle anywhere and do anything permissible by law," he said.

"As far as that particular issue (Shiv Sena's) is concerned, my party president has already clarified (it) and we stand by that statement and we have differences of opinion with Shiv Sena on this particular issue".

The senior BJP leader said that in a democracy, political parties do have differences and dismissed the Congress' suggestion to break its alliance with Shiv Sena.

"On the basis of one issue, you make or break an alliance?," he asked.

Pointing out that Congress had differences with NCP and some of its other UPA allies like DMK, he wondered if they would break their alliance.

Asked if the BJP would continue with Shiv Sena, Naidu replied in the affirmative.