Mumbai farewell for Bal Thackeray

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 18 November 2012 | 19.12

18 November 2012 Last updated at 05:35 ET

Hundreds of thousands of mourners have filled the streets of Mumbai for the state funeral of Hindu nationalist politician Bal Thackeray.

His body was driven slowly through huge crowds, still wearing his trademark sunglasses and covered in the Indian flag.

Thackeray, who was 86, founded the right-wing Shiv Sena party and was revered by followers.

But he was also blamed for inciting tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

Security had been tight as crowds began gathering for the procession earlier in the day, with thousands of police deployed.

But the crowds appeared calm as the funeral procession made its way to a park where supporters will be able to pay their last respects, before it is cremated later in the day.

Incitement claims

Thackeray was one of the most divisive figures in Indian politics.

A cartoonist by trade, he formed the Shiv Sena in 1966, partly with a view to keeping South Indian migrants out of Maharashtra state and to halt the spread of Islam.

Bal Thackeray

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The BBC's Yogita Limaye says Mumbai is preparing for a "major funeral"

In 2002 and again in 2008 he called on Hindus to form suicide squads to attack Muslims.

A government inquiry into the riots in Mumbai in 1992 and 1993 blamed Shiv Sena members and several party leaders for taking a major role in organising attacks on Muslims.

Thackeray was never convicted of any offence in connection with the riots.

He denied being anti-Muslim but said he was fiercely opposed to those who were pro-Pakistan.

"Only Marathis [residents of Maharashtra] have the first right over Mumbai," he wrote last year in the Shiv Sena newspaper.

He was also instrumental in the renaming of Bombay as Mumbai to break with its colonial past.

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