Thackeray attacks Amartya Sen for opposing Modi

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Friday criticised Nobel laureate Amartya Sen for opposing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as a prime ministerial candidate.

"Sen is a renowned economist and his comments have clearly delighted Congressmen. But as an economics expert, what exactly has he done for this country?" Thackeray asked in the party mouthpiece Saamana.

He pointed out in an editorial that India's economy was in shambles, inflation had reached explosive proportions and poverty had increased in the country.

"For all this, (Narendra) Modi is not responsible. But despite bagging a Nobel prize in economics, (Amartya) Sen has no solution for the country's economic mess," Thackeray said.

Thackeray advised Sen to first do his work properly before poking his nose in politics.

In the same breath, he also attacked Bharatiya Janata Party MP Chandan Mitra for demanding that Sen should return the Bharat Ratna.

"There is no doubt that Sen is a respected economist and he deserved the honours. But it is not right on some persons to demand the Bharat Ratna back from him. Everybody should stay within their limits," Thackeray said.