Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who has long opposedIndia-Pakistan cricket ties, Monday asked party activists "not topermit" the forthcoming matches between the two countries anywhere inIndia.
In a front-page appeal in the party mouthpiece Saamna, the86-year-old leader also lashed out at Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for hisstatement "to forget the past" and play cricket with Pakistan.
The proposed Pakistani tour in India begins Dec 25. Theseries would comprise three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s.
"Mr. Shinde, why are you taking this immature step ofplaying cricket with Pakistan? How can you say that we should forget the past?How and why should we forget the past?" Thackeray questioned.
He referred to the 26/11 terror strike and other attacks indifferent parts of the country.
The Sena chief said that although he was bedridden, hisblood boiled at Shinde's statement and the planned cricket matches in NewDelhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad. He had earlier termed them as"a national shame".
He pointed out that Maharashtra government has alreadydismissed the mercy petition of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone gunman caught aliveafter the Nov 26-28 terror siege of Mumbai four years ago, and now the centralgovernment should also reject it.
He lamented that it was India's misfortune to get such"immature leadership".
Last week, Thackeray had termed the BCCI's decision to goahead with the India-Pakistan cricket matches "as betrayal" of thecountry for money and Indian cricketers were part of that betrayal.
Incidentally, even his nephew, Raj Thackeray of MaharashtraNavnirman Sena has opposed the forthcoming Pakistan cricket tour in India.